girls Archives - Globetrotting Mommy

Puzzles for Kids: Explore the …

September 25, 2020 By Globetrotting Mommy

Puzzles have become one of my favorite pandemic pastimes. Until family vacations are back, here are some cool puzzles for kids to explore the world from home.

Cool Puzzles For Kids, Puzzles, Tween, Teen, Kids, Travel,

Puzzles For Kids: Explore the World From Home

This World Map Foam Puzzle would be a great play date activity for young elementary school kids. Play some international tunes and serve fun global bites and the kids won’t even realize they’re learning.

World Map, Foam Puzzle, Puzzles for Kids, Kid Puzzles, Puzzles, Educational Puzzles

Foam World Map Puzzle

This wooden USA Puzzle Map from Melissa and Doug is a great way for kids and up to learn their United States geography.

This wooden USA map puzzle is a great choice for elementary school kids.

This 3D Globe Puzzle from Ravensburger is a good option for kids ages 7-12. The 180-piece puzzle features curved pieces that click into a solid ball when completed. I love that it includes a rotation stand for display.

3D Globe puzzle

Tweens and teens can spot some insta-worthy global landmarks in this 1000 piece Globetrotter Jigsaw Puzzle.

Landmark Puzzle, puzzles for teens, globetrotter Puzzle, puzzles for kids

Cool puzzles for kids – Globetrotter Jigsaw Puzzle

For artsy kids (and adults) Michael Storrings has a slew of scenic puzzles from favorite cities like NYC, Paris, London, etc. Here’s New York City’s Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, 1000 piece puzzle.

Which is your favorite?

Five Cool Things to Check Out …

September 19, 2019 By admin

NYC’s new American Girl Place, one of our favorite New York City hotspots has a glitzy new home in Rockefeller Center. The 40,000-square-foot flagship store is stunning and the location is perfectly central for locals and tourists. If you’ve got an American Girl doll fan at home, read on to learn about Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC’s new American Girl Place.

Five Cool Things to Check Out at NYC’s New American Girl Place

1) The American Girl Salon, Only At American Girl New York

One of the major enhancements at the new American Girl Place is the gorgeous American Girl Salon. Dolls have always been able to enjoy salon pampering but now girls can get in on the spa and salon action too. Girls can choose hairstyles to match their dolls (or not) and they can now enjoy mini mani’s and ear piercing alongside their dolls. And yes, the ear piercing is major news! Girl hairstyles start at $25 while doll styles begin at $10. It was so fun to watch my daughter and her doll Lea have their hair done in matching styles with coordinating ribbons. If you’re looking for a special girl’s day out treat, a stop here will definitely impress everyone. You’ll want to review the salon options and make reservations in advance, especially over holidays and weekends.

2) The New American Girl Cafe

Always a classic choice for a special dining treat, the new American Girl Cafe features modern decor, an updated a-la-carte menu and they have done away with the set seating times so you won’t find yourself waiting in a long line. You and your dolls can enjoy brunch, afternoon tea, lunch or dinner with old menu favorites (pink lemonade, pigs-in-blankets, cinnamon buns, chocolate mousse flowerpots) as well as new offerings. Dolls can enjoy meals (in their own seats – so bring them along or borrow one at check-in) and girls are given souvenir dining accessories to use and take home. We enjoyed our lunch and my daughter loved getting to share the experience all glammed up along with her doll. Yes, they have private rooms for birthday parties so keep that in mind when birthday season arrives.

3) Explore American Girl Books and Movies

The new American Girl store features a comfortable section where kids can watch the company’s award-winning movies and videos. There is also a cozy nook where kids can browse the brand’s hundreds of best-selling fiction and advice books. I love that these areas are for kids (and parents) to relax as shopping in NYC can be very hectic. My daughter is in third grade and the American Girl books have really been essential in teaching her how to navigate friendships and her growing body.

4) Create Your Own Design Studio

My favorite new addition is the Create Your Own Design Studio where girls can custom design their own doll via an online experience that takes personalization and customization to a whole new level. There are more than one million possible design combinations from hairstyles, eye colors, skin shades and accessories galore so girls can truly create the doll of their dreams. Girls can also design one-of-a-kind doll and girl-sized clothing at the design studio, which can be printed in-store. If your daughter likes to add her personal touches to everything, she will love these new options.

5) Check out the American Girl Doll of the Year!

We’re huge fans of these annual additions (like Gabriela, Grace and Lea) and I love that the 2018 American Girl Doll, Luciana Vega encourages girls to explore science as she aspires to explore Mars someday. The New York City store features a special section dedicated to the annual doll as well as specialty items (like cafe drinks and salon services) toys and clothes. Best of all, the BeForever characters and newer dolls are featured in special showcases where girls can get a glimpse into their worlds and play in interactive areas. Younger girls will especially love exploring the WellieWishers and Bitty Baby areas.

Ready to visit? Check out my Top Tips for Visiting American Girl Place in NYC and pin this for your next NYC trip.

Have you been to NYC’s new American Girl Place? Who is your favorite doll?

Thanks to American Girl for providing us pampering spa services and lunch. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for …

October 5, 2016 By admin

Does your daughter love to swim? Does she love to dress up? Does she dream of being a mermaid? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, you’ll love today’s topic…Fin Fun Mermaid Tails.

Does your daughter dream of being a mermaid?

My daughter’s mermaid obsession started years ago with a well worn Ariel costume and a Caribbean themed birthday party. On our Kalahari trip last year, the obsession continued with a mermaid swim lesson so when I met the Fin Fun Mermaid team this summer, I knew my daughter would love her very own mermaid tail.

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls.

With a wide range of colors, patterns and textures (glitter, rainbow and ombre oh my), there is a Fin Fun Mermaid tail sure to please everyone. Girls (and women) can choose from four limited edition designs (Clownfish and Blue Tang which remind me of Nemo and Dory and Maui Splash and Bail Breeze featuring colorful ombre designs) and the Mermaidens® collection which is available in a rainbow of ten colors and glittery Sparkle Costume Mermaid Tails.

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls

Select your mermaid tail, add the company’s patented Fin Fun Monofin flipper and voila, your little mermaid comes to life. There are few better places to test-drive a mermaid tail then the Caribbean so we brought Fin Fun’s Waverlee’s Malibu Pink Mermaid Tail along on our recent trip to Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls (Photo credit: Caribephoto)

It is little tricky getting into the tail and Monofin so little ones will definitely need some assistance. Secure feet inside the Monofin slots, pull the tail up and you’ve got a mermaid. I highly recommend putting this on poolside because once the Monofin is on, there will be no walking. FYI, if you need to walk, the Monofin can easily be removed since the tail bottom features an open end.

The resort had a zero entry pool which made it perfect for my daughter to slide right in. Once she was comfortable kicking her tail around in a sitting position, we ventured deeper into the lazy river and my daughter excitedly swam around. It was so cute to see all the girls asking their parents if she was a real mermaid.

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls

Mermaid tails are only recommended for children who are strong swimmers and young mermaids should definitely be supervised at all times. I loved having the mermaid tail as a prop for the adorable photo shoot we did with Caribephoto. How great are these photos they took?

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls (Photo credit: Caribephoto)

Fin Fun Mermaid Tails for Globetrotting Girls (Photo credit: Caribephoto)

If you’re looking for a unique gift for a girl (or mom) who likes to swim, a Fin Fun Mermaid tail is sure to please.

Big thanks to Fin Fun Mermaid for providing me with a mermaid tail to review and to Caribephoto for capturing these awesome photos. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Vacation or Staycation: The …

July 12, 2016 By admin

If you’ve got a picky little fashionista in your house, read on for my picks for the Best Summer Clothes for Girls at home and on vacation.

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls.

When my daughter turned three, she started to choose her own outfits, shoes and accessories. Some matched and others didn’t but I loved seeing her creative juices flow as she would carefully coordinate each item. Over the last few years, I noticed that some items were worn over and over while others were just taken out on occasion or never at all. She’s gone through a dress phase, legging moment and gym look but the one consistent factor in her outfits is always comfort.

If you’re looking for some comfortable yet stylish (and affordable), summer clothes for girls, here are some of our favorites…

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Stock up on summer favorites with kidpik Basics.

Stock up on summer favorites with kidpik Basics

You know when you find something you really love and buy it in every color? Kidpik has simplified shopping with a new kidpik Basics website that sorts items by color and styles. We went to check out the colorful styles at the NYC launch party and they were so cute and stylish. Is your daughter just into purple this summer? Just click on purple and she can easily pick out her summer favorites. Did your daughter fall in love with an item in her kidpik subcription box? Here’s your chance to order more of that same item in a selection of colors. I love that the styles range from casual to dressy so you can mix and match the pieces and create several different looks. With prices starting at $6.50, you can buy an entire summer wardrobe and still have money left for a summer getaway. Win, win!

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Stock up on casual and cute summer dresses from H&M.

Casual and cute summer dresses from H&M

Every NYC girl I know has a few of these cotton dresses in her closet. At just $5 each, you can let your daughter choose her favorite patterns without breaking the bank or worrying about getting messy. From classic patterns to quirky designs (shop in store for the best selections), these sleeveless jersey dresses are just perfect at home and on vacation. Dress them up with strappy sandals or down with flip flops and you’re ready for any amusement park, museum visit, alfresco lunch, summer BBQ or other adventure.

Vacation or Staycation: The Best Summer Clothes for Girls. Sporty styles from Old Navy are great for home and away.

Sporty styles from Old Navy Active

If you haven’t already heard, kids of all ages are jumping on the “athleisure” bandwagon. These comfy gym inspired outfits are perfect choices for summer camp, yoga classes, sightseeing and beach walks. A lot of stores offer this type of clothing but I really love the affordable and colorful options from Old Navy Active. These styles are perfect for travel when kids want to be comfortable on a long plane or car ride and the matchy-matchy looks are super easy for kids to coordinate when packing on their own.

If you’re still looking for summer shoes, be sure to check out my choices for Best Summer Shoes for Kids story.

What are your favorite summer styles for girls? Tell me below in the comments.

I received some items for review purposes but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes …

April 20, 2016 By admin

Do you have a picky little fashionista in your house? If so, this post about the new Kidpik subscription box is for you! Living in NYC, families get so many things delivered in a box (from groceries to shoes) because online shopping is typically easier, faster and much less complicated than venturing out to a store with kids in tow. When I heard that a new subscription clothing box was launching for girls (size 4-14!) just in time for our spring and summer travels, I immediately wanted in.