Globetrotting Mommy

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 …

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Mother’s day is coming up (May 10 in the United States) so don’t wait till the last minute to get your mom (wife or grandma) a great Mother’s Day present.  Of course the best gifts are handmade so have your kiddo make a card or candy necklace to go along with one of these picks from my 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Globetrotting Mommy’s 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide:

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

1) I Just Want to Pee Alone – This hysterical book is my go-to gift for new moms. I may or may not have read most of it hiding in my bathroom…There have since been two more versions but the original is my fave.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

2) I’m a Cool Mom Sweatshirt – For the mom who wants to be cute and comfy, I think this Etsy sweatshirt is super fun.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

3) Cartography USA Tray – For the foodie moms, this ceramic tray featuring a USA map is a fun idea. Serve up some cheese and crackers and teach your kids a little geography at the same time.  Win, win!

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

4) Deckopedia’s 50 Road Trip Games: Inside this cute box are 50 cards featuring so many fun games, you won’t hear “I’m bored” ever again!  I’ve had these in my bag for the last month and they have saved me from meltdowns on road trips, at the doctor’s office, in restaurants and many other places kids tend to get bored. The games range from toddler to teen making it a great option for moms with kids of any age.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

5) Lush Cosmetics’ Flowers for Mom – Since relaxation time for mom is always a nice treat, this fun filled, yummy smelling assortment of bath treats from Lush Cosmetics is sure to please. I love that it comes in a cute floral scarf with a gift tag made of flower seeds to plant at home.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

6) Your Child’s Artwork and Handwriting Necklace – This Etsy store turns cute kiddie doodles and signatures into necklaces (or earrings, brooches, bracelets and key chains). If you’ve got an artsy kid, this is a great option that moms (or grandmas) would definitely love.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

7) Fashionable (and slimming!) swimwear from Miraclesuit and Magicsuit. Summer is coming and odds are your mom needs a new bathing suit and cover up. Splurge on some fabulous swimwear for her and she will be ready for St. Tropez or the kiddie pool. I got to test drive a Miraclesuit and coverup in Miami last week (thanks Momtrends!) and they were comfy, chic and oh so flattering.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

8) Kings Road Redux Mugs – If your mom is dreaming of a trip to London, she’ll love these adorable mugs. Pair them with this Tea from Around The World Set and three months of pastries and you’re good to go.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

9) Mommy and Me Photo Shoot – Since its important that Mom Stays in the Picture, I think a Mommy and Me Photo Shoot would make an awesome Mother’s Day gift.  Hire a professional or hand dad the good camera and head to the park. Here’s a tip I just learned from my daughter’s kindergarten teacher that works wonders for a natural smile…have kids say “Macaroni and Cheese.”

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!!

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Globetrotting Girls: Meet …

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If you’ve got a daughter who loves to travel, cook and play with dolls, today is your lucky day!  If you don’t already know, each year American Girl introduces a Girl of the Year and the 2015 American Girl doll, Grace Thomas, is my favorite one yet.

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Globetrotting Girls: Meet Grace, the 2015 American Girl Doll

Grace is an enthusiastic girl who loves to bake with friends and invent new recipes.  A trip to Paris inspires her to try new things – including turning her passion for baking into a business. Oh la la!  I love that she encourages young girls to see the world but I also love that she encourages girls to help hungry kids by hosting bake sales with the For Goodness Bake program.

As always, a whole array of clothing, accessories and books have been introduced for Grace (and girls) including Parisian inspired accessories, chic outfits, a cute travel set and a tres magnifique (and tres expensive) French Bakery. My five-year old daughter and Grace have become fast friends. They practice counting in French, compare charm bracelets, read and bake together. Grace enjoys exploring NYC with us and my daughter enjoys styling Grace’s hair and outfits.

To encourage girls to get baking, American Girl is teaming up with Sur La Table stores nationwide to offer American Girl at Sur La Table: Make & Bake French Treats classes this April and May.  In these special two-hour cooking classes, young bakers learn the fundamentals: following recipes, measuring, mixing and working safely in the kitchen. Girls get hands-on in the kitchen, learning the chefs’ secrets for making French pastry favorites including apple tarts, chocolate éclairs and Eiffel Tower cookies. Every girl gets to take home a goodie bag, including an American Girl apron and a cookie cutter from Sur La Table so they can continue their baking adventures at home.

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Globetrotting Girls: Meet Grace, the 2015 American Girl Doll

My daughter and I attended a preview of this baking class in NYC and it was super adorable and yummy. How cute are these Eiffel Tower cookies?

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Globetrotting Girls: Meet Grace, the 2015 American Girl Doll

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Globetrotting Girls: Meet Grace, the 2015 American Girl Doll

Spots are going fast so reserve your space in the April and May classes online.

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Special thanks to American Girl and Sur La Table for a providing us with a complimentary doll and baking class. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 …

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We’re big LeapFrog fans so when we were asked to review the LeapPad3, I knew my daughter would be up for the challenge.

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Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 Review

I occasionally let her use electronic gadgets at home but when we travel I let her use them as much as she wants on the plane or in the car. We had a 6+ hour road trip planned so I charged it up and surprised her with it as soon as she uttered, “Are we there yet?”.

She was immediately drawn to its child friendly size and cuteness (pretty in pink) and loved the attached stylus (brilliant!). With very little prompting, she was figuring out the various games, apps, videos and camera while learning how to control the stylus and touchscreen. She happily followed each game’s voice instructions and I happily had some uninterrupted time!  Win win.

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Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 Review

As with other LeapFrog products, the games are fun AND educational. While she was playing she was also learning math, reading and other problem solving skills. My daughter is in Kindergarden and it seemed like she was able to play with every game at various levels. Best of all, the games automatically adjusted to her skill level so there was never any frustration.  It comes with 10 preloaded apps and hundreds more are available to download from the LeapFrog library featuring characters from Disney, Nick. Jr., Sesame Street and more. FYI, the games and apps can add up but if you have other LeapPad products your purchases can be shared by up to three devices.

She especially liked a Barbie game where you matched rhyming words, a puzzle game that involved a bit of geometry, the camera app and seeing her favorite shows like Paw Patrol. There was plenty to do without using Wi-Fi but older kids might enjoy playing with their friends online and chatting with other kids who have LeapPads.

I was really impressed with the LeapPad3’s rechargeable battery life (don’t forget to pack the charger) and overall sturdiness. My daughter loved playing with it and I loved that I didn’t have to worry about her venturing off into YouTube videos or deleting my files. The recommended age is 3-9 but I think 4-6 year olds will enjoy it the most. If you’ve got a long trip with little kids coming up, the LeapPad3 makes a great travel companion.

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Thanks to LeapFrog for providing us with the LeapPad3. As usual, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part …

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I featured my holiday gift guide for all the kids and parents on your list as well as family friendly gift ideas and today I’m back with some suggestions for the best holiday toys for kids of all ages!

BABIES:

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part 3: Best Holiday Toys – Baby Toys

How cute is Airplane Rattle by Estella? I love that its hand-crafted in Peru by local artists.

The Cheerios Play Book will keep babies entertained as they place Cheerios in patterns and other designs.

The Global Glowball from B. toys is a great musical nightlight for babies that can be used as an interactive musical globe as the child grows.

The states collection from Little Sapling Toys features handcrafted teethers shaped like different states.

LITTLE KIDS:

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part 3: Best Holiday Toys – Toys for Little Kids

Get their creative juices flowing with a Creativity Can loaded with art supplies like pipe cleaners, googly eyes, tissue paper, etc. Choose from the Big Creativity Can or six smaller cans with themes like Build, Motion, Music and more.

Let their imaginations run wild with Magna-Tiles.  These are on the pricey side but little kids will love playing with these for years to come. My daughter is a big fan and I love that they are super easy to clean up and store.

Pop up playtents are always fun but with this VW Camper Van Tent, little ones can pretend they’re on the road. So cute!

Here in NYC, every little kid I know rides a scooter and I think the Micro Kickboard Mini Micro 3 in 1 is a great holiday gift for little kids (ages 1-5)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS:

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part 3: Best Holiday Toys – Toys for Elementary School Kids

I recently reviewed LeapTV and its a great toy that combines interactive learning with video games. Win-win!

Card games are always fun (and great to bring along on holiday trips and family visits) and my favorites are from eeBoo. The eeBoo Crazy Faces Card Game is a great pick for kids and adults (think Crazy 8 matching the silly faces on the cards). I like their Color Go Fish too which teaches younger kids colors like chartreuse and turquoise.

Bananagrams is a fun game the whole family can enjoy. Young children will have a lot of fun learning new words and practicing their spelling. I love how the pieces zip up in the banana case making it a great game for travel.

Legos were one of my favorite toys and I love to see my daughter’s reaction when we visit the new Lego Flatiron store. Until you have the room and supplies to build a life size Statue of Liberty, start small with the Lego Juniors (great for kids 4-7), colorful Lego Friends sets and traditional Lego sets.

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part …

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Last week I featured my holiday gift guide for all the kids and parents on your list and today I’m back with some fun family friendly gift ideas! Stay tuned for my picks for the best holiday toys.

FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For jewelry loving aunts, these tres chic Jet Set Candy luggage tag necklaces are sure to please. Moms would love these too – hint, hint…

For the cousins, I think this colorful Novogratz-Designed “Family” Blanket from Old Navy is too cute. Pair it with some DVDs and movie snacks and you’ll be all set.

For grandparents who juggle a million appointments, what could be better than a personalized photo calendar?  I made this one from Shutterfly but there are so many great options out there. I love that you can add in family photos, birthdays and other special family dates.

For nieces and nephews – Kids love getting games for the holidays but imagine how many bonus points you’ll score for giving them a game with chocolate game pieces?  Yes, edible! Gamesformotion has taken some of the best family friendly games (Candy Land, Guess Who, Monopoly, Scrabble, and others) and added Belgium milk chocolate playing pieces! My daughter and I tried these first-hand and we both think these will be a win with the kids.

FAMILY FRIENDLY GIFTS:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For the whole family, I love the idea of a year-long subscription gift so the Jeni’s ice cream Pint Club is a great fit. The lucky recipient gets three pints of Jeni’s dreamy ice cream delivered four times a year. Sign me up!

For chocolate lovers – Small edible gifts are always a win around the holidays and Trader Joe’s has some really fun options. Their Chocolate Passport set and Dark Chocolate Covered Star Shortbread Cookies (and mini stars in mint) are my personal favorites.

Speaking of cookies, cookie decorating is always a fun family activity but if you’re too tired to bake, Walkers shortbread cookies come in festive shapes making them a tasty option. Grab some frosting in a tube and sprinkles and you’ve got a fun no-planning holiday playdate.

If you’re looking for a fun family gift that can be used year after year, I love the idea of sending flowers in a keepsake cookie jar. Teleflora’s Gingerbread Cookie Jar Bouquet is a festive arrangement in a hand-painted gingerbread-house cookie jar that also includes a recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Cookies.

Have a great weekend!

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Some samples received, however all opinions are my own.  Special thanks to Momtrends for hosting me at their holiday event.

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Toys that Travel: Crayola …

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If you’re looking for a fun toy that will happily keep your kids entertained at home and away this holiday season, read on to learn about Crayola Virtual Design Pro (and enter to win your own!).

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

We’re big Crayola fans here (remember our trip to the Crayola Experience?) and my daughter loves to dress up so I had a feeling the Crayola Virtual Design Pro-Fashion Set would keep her nicely entertained over Thanksgiving break. We tested it out at grandma’s house and it was a huge hit with everyone!

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

I loved that all the tools (vibrant pencils and markers, stencils, design book and pencil sharpener) came in a sturdy, easy to transport case. Arts and crafts projects can sometimes get unwieldy but this design portfolio really kept the mess and chaos to a minimum. My daughter quickly got to work as a budding fashion designer while I downloaded the free My Virtual Fashion Show app.

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

I love toys that let my daughter’s imagination run wild and this was a perfect example of that. She loved using the stars and stripes stencils to make a 4th of July outfit then she decorated a one-shoulder dress in orange and pink for New Year’s Eve. Although the book contains 20 templates, the options are really endless since you can download and print additional designs. Once the design is colored, you import it into the app via a photo and then the real fun begins.

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

The app lets the kiddie (and adult) designers choose details like hair color and styles, skin tones, shoe options and accessories like glasses. The age recommendation is 6+ but my 5-year old had no trouble navigating her way through the different fashion options, backgrounds, etc. As soon as you’re done, your design comes to “life” in 3D walking down the runway. It was really amazing how lifelike the models and their outfits looked on the virtual runway and I was also happy to see that it didn’t matter if kids colored out of the lines.

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

Every new design gets stored in the app and you can customize your fashion shows and model choices.

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Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

Crayola Virtual Design, Review, Giveaway, Toys, Creative, Fashion, Designer

Toys that Travel: Crayola Virtual Design Pro Review and Giveaway

Overall, I was really happy with this toy but I would have liked a way to design our own dress templates (hint, hint Crayola). This toy happily kept my daughter busy longer than usual (I think she enjoyed accessorizing the models as much as she enjoyed coloring her designs) and I had a lot of fun with it too. If you’ve got a budding fashionista on your holiday shopping list, this toy is a really great pick and a nice option for family bonding over the holidays.  And if you’ve got boys, check out the Crayola Virtual Design Pro-Cars Set which allows kids to customize their own car designs.

I’ve got three Crayola Virtual Design Pro-Fashion Sets and a $50 gift card to give away!

To enter please leave a blog post comment- Who do you know who would love this toy?

For additional entries, please leave separate comments for each of these four options:

  1. Like Globetrotting Mommy on Facebook
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  3. Like TravelMommy on Twitter
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This giveaway is open to US residents and will run until midnight EST Friday December 12, 2014.

**Congratulations to the winners:

Amanda Sakovitz

Jessica

Nancy Miller

Bonnie P

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I was not compensated for this post but the Crayola Virtual Design Pro, gift card, information and additional gift pack have been provided by Crayola. As always, all opinions are my own.

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NYC Inspired Holiday Gift …

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Who wouldn’t love a little piece of the Big Apple under their Christmas tree or Chanukah bush this year? Here are my favorite NYC Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas…

This is New York by Miroslav Sasek.  I had this on my bookshelf when I was a kid and its still one of my favorites today.  This classic storybook shows many details of city life with cartoon characters and colorful illustrations.  It works in a children’s bedroom or on a coffee table.

I don’t know one single kid who isn’t obsessed with the NYC Subway system. My Subway Ride by Paul DuBois Jacobs is colorful portrayal of the sounds and sights of the NYC subways.  Girls and boys will be equally amused by this one.


Eloise is a classic NYC character. For girls who love, love, love Eloise, this Ultimate Edition treasury is sure to please. This is a great choice for young travelers since it features Eloise in Moscow and Eloise in Paris as well as Eloise at Christmastime and the original Eloise story and scrapbook.

Maya Brenner’s Big Apple Charm is a great pick for girls of all ages.

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New York City Inspired Gift Ideas

How fun is this New York State baking dish by Corbe?  I would definitely be serving an apple crisp in this one.

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New York City Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas

Umbrellas are a necessity at home and away. I’m just loving this Cityscape Clear Umbrella from Felix Rey to add a little sunshine to a rainy day.

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Globetrotting Mommy – Holiday gifts for women

For the guy who has everything, these vintage NYC subway token cufflinks are sure to please.

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New York City Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get …

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Keeping NYC kids entertained outside in the winter can be challenging but can so staying home which typically means a post-playdate messy apartment. When LeapFrog and MomSelect asked if I wanted to try out the new LeapTV and host my very own playdate, I was excited to say the least.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

My five-year old daughter had never played with any gaming devices other than the iPad but I had a feeling she would quickly become hooked on LeapTV.  Over the years we’ve amassed a variety of LeapFrog learning products and I’ve always been impressed with their ability to hold her interest. The LeapTV from LeapFrog is a great addition to our collection since it gets her moving and having fun while teaching reading, math, science and problem solving.  That’s a win-win in my book.

LeapTV, designed for kids ages 3-8, is way more advanced than anything I ever had as a child of the 80s. It uses a motion-sensing camera so kids can use their bodies to “touch” and watch themselves on TV (so cool!) and a controller that fits small hands perfectly and can be used in two positions. The audio instruction makes it simple for little kids while older children can read the prompts.  My five-year old and her pal had a super fun time testing out the Pet Play World (free when you register) as well as the LeapFrog Sports! and LeapFrog Dance & Learn games. Several other game are available as well.

These little girls like to boogie so they wanted to start with the dancing games.  They danced around and loved watching themselves on the tv screen.  While they danced and drummed, they learned new moves as well as rhymes and compound words. This game also teaches letters and sounds, sight words and word sounds.  For these kindergarten kids who are just learning to read, this was a huge hit.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

The LeapFrog Sports! cartridge features nine games (soccer/football, bowling, baseball, karate, skateboarding, snowboarding, swimming, rope climbing and weight lifting) that all teach math. The games involve shapes, number recognition and patterns for younger kids as well as addition, subtraction and fractions.  The soccer and skateboarding games were the favorites here.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

The controller takes a bit of practice for young kids to master and the response time seemed a bit slow compared to adult gaming devices but the girls didn’t seem to mind.  Overall, it was a big hit and the girls played nicely even as they competed against each other which is not always the case with board games…

The games adapt to each child’s level—starting with age, and then automatically adjusting the learning for just the right challenge so I think this will be a popular choice for years to come. If you’re looking for holiday gift ideas, this would definitely be a hit for families with small kids.

After an hour or so of hard core playing and learning, these girls were tired out and my apartment was still clean. It doesn’t get better than that…

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

If you want to see LeapTV in action, check out this movie…

Have a great weekend.

 

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I was not compensated for this post but I received free products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Little Elliot, Big City …

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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!

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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.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach …

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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.

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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.

Beach Getaway with Kids, Must Have, Rash Guard, Beach Cover Ups, Accessories, Globetrotting Mommy, Family Beach Vacation

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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