holiday gifts Archives - Globetrotting Mommy

The Ultimate Holiday Gift …

November 2, 2022 By Globetrotting Mommy

Tis the season to be shopping and if you’ve got tweens and teens on your list you probably need some help. Check out the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Tweens and Teens…

Gifts for the Glam Girls…

Personalized Cosmetic Bag – Perfect for home or away, these personalized watercolor bags will keep her makeup and brushes clean and organized. These are also handy for hair accessories, brushes, hand sanitizers and facemasks.

Hot Iron Holster – Keep hands and countertops safe from burns with this silicone holder for her hair styling tools. It easily re-attaches making it great for trips and sleepovers.

Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel – This year has been extra hard without regular pedicures so pamper her tootsies with this easy home foot peel. The results will definitely make her say “wow.”

Velvet Knot Headbands with Faux Pearls – This trendy and super affordable headband trio will add a touch of glam to any outfit. Choose from pink, beige and black or gray, brown and beige.

Comfy Cosmetic Headband – Girls will love this super cute headband to keep their hair back when they wash their faces or while they relax with a face mask. I especially love the Minnie Mouse style bow.

Gifts for the Globetrotters…

Infinity Scarf with Hidden Pocket – This scarf’s hidden pocket is perfect for hiding cash, keys, cell phones and other small items. Perfect for travel, school or even a walk around the block.

Wild Essentials Infinity Fleece Sleep Mask – This is my absolute favorite sleep mask and I never leave home without it. The deep eye pockets ensure a comfy fit and complete darkness. Available in nine colors so kids can coordinate with their pajamas.

Carry-On Suitcase – Someday we’ll be traveling again so a new carry-on suitcase is sure to please – colorful luggage is easy to spot. If your tween is into American Girl Dolls, throw in a doll-sized luggage set or cute doll travel accessories.

Travel Jewelry Box – She’ll keep her baubles and trinkets safe in this cute travel jewelry box. If she’s always losing her earrings, this is a perfect gift.

Hanging Toiletry Bag – Teens are experts at making a mess in the bathroom so keeping their stuff organized in zippered compartments is sure to help. Kids can hang these from the bathroom mirror or towel rack so they’re not in everyone’s way.

Gifts for kids who love anything colorful…

Tie-Dye Kit – Teens and tweens love to show off their creative sides so a tie-dye kit is perfect for them to create colorful hoodies, masks, socks, and other items.

Magnetic Dry Erase Board – Perfect for fridges or lockers, teens and tweens will love jotting down their ideas on this dry erase board with six colorful markers.

Candy Color iPhone Case – Teens and tweens will never drop their phones again with these colorful phone cases featuring adjustable cross body cords. Available in six gorgeous colors or basic black, these are especially great for traveling.

GUND Kai Rainbow Plush Teddy Bear – You’re never too old for a new teddy bear and this super soft rainbow bear from GUND is sure to become a new favorite.

Crayola Inspiration Art Case – With 140 pieces, this easy to carry art kit will be a hit with any creative teen or tween. The set includes crayons, markers, colored pencils and paper.

For the game players…

Exploding Kittens – This quirky card game keeps players on the edge of their seats as they try not to “explode” and lose. Super fun, super easy and perfect for any get together since up to ten players can play.

Unsolved Case Files – Teens (and mature tweens) will love channeling their inner detectives as they try to solve a murder mystery. This is one of those games that might take a few hours or days as everyone works together to sort thru clues and documents. It can be played individually or in groups of any size making it the perfect party game.

Relative Insanity See What I Mean – This funny game uses photo cards and dice to come up with some very interesting scenarios that the “judge” reviews before choosing a winner. Great for four to 12 players.

Camera Roll – For tweens and teens who can’t put down their phones, this is the perfect game. Players race to find the perfect photo or video from their phones to match prompts from the playing cards. For three or more players.

Big Boggle – With 25 letter cubes, this family favorite is bigger and better. Tweens and teens can now come up with even more words and more lengthy responses. For two or more players.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Hopefully this Holiday Gift Guide for Tweens and Teens sparked some ideas.

Note: This post contains some affiliate links.

Great Gifts for Travelers

December 16, 2019 By admin

If you’re looking for gift ideas for the globetrotter in your life, you’ll love this post. My holiday gift guide is full of great gifts for travelers to enjoy at home and away…

TRAVEL MUST-HAVES:

Digital Luggage Scale – My number one travel accessory is this easy-to-use luggage scale. Stop guessing if your bag is under 50 pounds and say goodbye to extra baggage charges.

Packing Cubes – I am a huge fan of packing cubes, especially for families since each person can choose their color. Just group items or outfits in cubes and packing will be a breeze.

Hanging Toiletry Bag – I keep my toiletry bag packed so I can just grab and go. Zippered compartments are perfect for travel accessories and the hanging design keeps bathroom clutter to a minimum.

Travel Jewelry Organizer – Keep your jewels safe and never lose an earring again with these colorful jewelry boxes. The small size and compartments make this a great option for quick trips. And remember, never ever check your jewels in luggage!

Reusable Shopping Bags – These are so useful for shopping at home and away. They also double as road-trip snack bags, beach totes and laundry bags. Choose from solids, prints and metallic options – an easy gift for travelers.

Travel Adaptor – A must for every globetrotter. Keep your favorite electronics charged wherever you go. Pick a different color for everyone in your family.

Travel Sized Laundry Bag – For the traveler who has everything, this world map laundry bag is a fun gift. I love that it folds into a tiny travel pouch with a carabineer.

TRAVEL INSPIRED GIFTS FOR TRAVELERS:

Gifts for Travelers - Travel Inspired Gifts

Show Tickets and Personalized Shirt – For the Broadway fan on your list, a pair of tickets to an upcoming show and a personalized shirt to wear make a great gift. I used my Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine to personalize a “So Fetch” shirt for a Mean Girls lover in sparkly pink.

Scratch Your Travels USA Map – Travelers will love highlighting their US adventures as they scratch off each state they visit. Add a frame and you’ve got a great family gift.

Travel Scarf – A travel scarf is always a good idea and this infinity version with a secret hidden zipper pocket is a great gift for travelers all ages. Choose from solids and patterns.

50 States, 5,000 Ideas – This comprehensive National Geographic book is full of sightseeing ideas in every state. A great gift option for families.

FOR TRAVEL LOVING FOODIES:

Bokksu – For the adventurous eater on your list, a Bokksu box filled with Japanese snacks and teas is sure to please. A great option for travel-loving families who like to try new foods. Choose from monthly subscriptions in two different sizes.

Custom Etched Map Glassware – For the coffee or hot cocoa drinker, wine aficionado and spirits lover on your list, I love Well Told Designs glassware etched with a favorite city, college town, airport, island, marathon route and more. Choose from pints, rocks, wine, mugs, mason jars, champagne flutes, etc. and you’ve got a great gift for everyone on your list.

Sitka Salmon Shares – For seafood lovers, gift a box of seasonal wild-caught seafood – straight from Southeast Alaska and the North Pacific! Sitka Salmon Shares, a community-supported fishery, supports sustainable fisheries and delivers the freshest catches from boat to doorstep. Use code SITKA25 to receive $25 off any 2020 Premium Sitka Seafood Share.

Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport – Every holiday season Trader Joe’s brings out their cult favorites and their Chocolate Passport is a great option for every traveler on your list. Perfect for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, etc.

BEST FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR TRAVELING:

Tenzi – I’m a huge fan of easy-to-pack family games and Tenzi is one of my favorites. This multi-dice game is easy to learn and fast to play. There are several variations which help keep boredom at bay. Add in the 77 Ways to Play The Add-on Card Set and you’re guaranteed hours of good fun.

Playing Cards – An oldie but goodie, playing cards are easy to bring along on any trip making them great gifts for travelers. From Go Fish and War to Canasta and Rummy, everyone on the trip will find something to play. Other options include Solitare and building card houses.

Match-O-Rama – From the makers of Telestrations, Match-O-Rama is a great game choice for multi-generational family trips. The better you know the players, the easier you can predict how others will answer. Or maybe not? Easy to learn, fast to play and sure to keep the whole family entertained.

Kodak Premium Puzzles – Puzzles are a great activity to bring along on a vacation. Choose from easy to hard (depending on the ages and patience levels) and the whole family can enjoy. Kodak has a lot of travel-themed options (Boston, Italy, Greece, US National Parks and more) perfect for travel-loving families.

Need more gifts for travelers and everyone else on your list? Check out my 2020 Tween and Teen Gift Guide and Great Gifts for Teens and Tweens from 2019 .

I received some of these items for review purposes but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Great Gifts for Tweens and …

December 12, 2019 By admin

Do you have a tween or teen on your holiday gift list? I feel your pain. These not-little but not-yet adults can be tricky but lucky for you, I’m sharing my list of great gifts for tweens and teens.

Gifts for Tween and Teen Girls

Frida Kahlo Puzzle – She’s an artist, activist, and feminist icon – no wonder so many young women are Frida Kahlo fans. eeBo always has fantastic gifts and this colorful puzzle is sure to please.

Hydro Flask – If your VSCO girl doesn’t already have one, this popular water bottle will be a sure winner. The bigger, the better and don’t forget the cute stickers!

Scrunchies – Now that they’re back, scrunchies are a must for all tween and teen girls. Grab this 60-piece set and you’ll have one to match every outfit.

Gifts For Teens and Tweens Who Have Everything

Dollar Bill Animals in Origami – This book features instructions (start with easy!) for turning any dollar bill into animals like giraffe, shark, unicorn, etc. Throw in a couple of Hamiltons and you’re done. Perfect for road trips and plane rides too.

Spontuneous – The Song Game – We played this over Thanksgiving break with a mix of tweens, teens, parents and grandparents and it was a HUGE hit. We were laughing so hard as we tried to guess each other’s songs and move to the finish line. Great for family gatherings, sleepovers and game night.

Cinema Light Box – A fun light box is always a good idea. Tweens and teens can express themselves with 160 letters and symbols like emojis and holiday icons.

Faux Fur Throws – Teens and tweens will love cozying up for movie night with these super-soft throws. The neutral colors will blend perfectly with any den or bedroom.

Gifts for Travel Loving Teens and Tweens

Wireless Airpods – Airpods are a must-have for teens and tweens who love listening to music on chatting on the go. The learning curve is quick and the battery life is long, enough said.

Inflatable Snow Tube – For tweens and teens who live where it snows, these fun snow tubes are perfect. Choose from burger, donut, peppermint, taco, snowcone or pizza. Perfect for bringing along on a ski vacation…

Disney Mini Backpack – For Disney lovers, Loungefly has the cutest selection of mini backpacks around. My tween has been eyeing this Minnie Mouse Ears version, a classic for sure.

Gifts for Crafty Tweens and Teens

Make Your Own Glitter Face Masks – This DIY kit from Klutz includes everything kids need to make five face masks. The silicone brush makes it easy to apply the mix so it isn’t as messy as you think.

Tie-Dye Party Kit – Know a crafty kid who loves to throw a party? This tie-dye kit comes with supplies (14 fun colors!) and instructions for up to 36 projects. Perfect for sleepovers or family get-togethers.

Sew Your Own Unicorn Cake Pillow – Crafty girls will love learning how to sew a soft and sparkly unicorn cake pillow using techniques like whip stitching, basting and gathering. Materials are pre-cut for ease and there are tons of decorative options (think faux fur, metallic gold lamé, and iridescent pom-poms).

Check out my 2020 Gift Guide for Tweens and Teens for more ideas. Need gift ideas for the travelers on your list? Check out my Great Gifts for Travelers.

Happy shopping!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. I was provided with some items for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

The Best New York City Books …

November 13, 2019 By admin

Reading is one of the best ways for kids to discover the world and learn about places near and far. Since New York City is on many bucket lists, I’m sharing New York City books for kids.

Here are my top picks for New York City books for kids of all ages.

1) 123 New York: A Cool Counting Book by Puck (ages baby – three). One of my daughter’s first possessions, this little board book is a great introduction to NYC landmarks. There are no words, just numbers and pictures so you can read it to your babes in any language you’d like. Uno Statue of Liberty… Dos baseballs…Tres Brooklyn Bridges…they’ll be counting to ten in no time.

2) This is New York by Miroslav Sasek (ages three and up). 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 might seem a little dated but I still think it captures the spirit of New York.

3) Larry Gets Lost in New York City by John Skewes (ages three – seven). That lovable Larry is always getting lost somewhere. Follow the puppy’s escapades around Manhattan while he visits the city’s many landmarks.

4) A Walk in New York by Salvatore Rubbino (ages four – eight). Another one of my favorites, this beautifully illustrated book shows a boy and his dad sightseeing around New York. There are bits of trivia mixed in with the drawings so kids can learn all sorts of interesting NYC facts like the names of the marble lions outside the New York Public Library…can you guess…Patience and Fortitude.

5) My Subway Ride by Paul DuBois Jacobs (ages four – eight). This colorful book depicts the sounds and sights of the NYC subway system. Girls and boys will be equally amused by this one.

6) Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet (ages five – ten). If your family loves watching New York City’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, this book will become an immediate favorite. The story tells the true story of how the famous floats came to creation with gorgeous graphics and a bit of STEM education along the way.

7) You Can’t Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Press Weitzman (ages five-eight). You either love or hate these wordless picture books. This one follows a yellow balloon as it floats all around Manhattan. Kids will recognize famous landmarks as well as paintings and sculptures as they use their imaginations to “read.”

8) Eloise: The Ultimate Edition by Kay Thompson (ages five-ten). For girls who love, love, love Eloise, this 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.

9) And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss (ages five – nine). You might not know but this is Dr. Seuss’ very first children’s books. Your imagination will run wild as you follow young Marco’s ever-changing story. Mulberry Street is located in NYC’s Little Italy neighborhood where you can find Italian pastries and pasta, pasta, pasta.

10) The New York Times: 36 Hours USA & Canada by Barbara Ireland (Kids eight and up). For kids who are old enough to plan family adventures, this coffee table book is filled with travel itineraries and suggestions for trips to New York City (and beyond).

Books make great birthday, baby shower and holiday gifts and these are all sure to please globetrotting kids and parents alike. And, if you’re planning a New York-themed baby nursery, just stock a bookshelf with these and you’re halfway there.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links)

Holiday Gift Giving For Kids …

November 30, 2018 By admin

This is always a popular week for holiday shopping and vacation finalizing and I’ve been busy with both.

NYC is in full holiday swing.

While I fiish up my holiday gift guides, I want to share a super easy way to give back this holiday season and help millions of children across the United States with Amazon’s Alexa-charity gifting feature.

Amazon kicked off the program on Giving Tuesday and I loved watching Hoda and Kathie Lee try it out on the Today Show. Customers can now donate a toy to Toys for Tots via Alexa by simply saying, “Alexa, donate to Toys for Tots.” What’s easier than voice shopping?

Amazon will be matching customer donations throughout the end of the year – toy for toy – doubling customers’ contributions! So basically you’re donating two gifts for the price of one.

Check out the list of toys and get more details here.

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?

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Globetrotting Kids Alert: …

June 11, 2015 By admin

Today I’m sharing some big Skylanders news sure to please young and old globetrotters…Skylanders SuperChargers is coming this fall and kids (and adults) will soon be able to explore and navigate the mountainous terrains, deep sea environments and big blue skies of Skylands with the vehicles-to-life feature.

Skylanders, SuperChargers, Starter Pack, Games, Kids, Vehicles, Toys, Travel

Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Skylanders)

The new game features 20 vehicle designs and types (think race cars, motorcycles, boats, tanks, helicopters, jets, submarines and more) many of which feature moving parts. These new vehicles pair with twenty new SuperChargers – special Sklylanders who can interact with vehicle tricks, new moves and weapons. Of course, any Skylanders characters can drive the new vehicles allowing for endless imaginative play.

I got a sneak peek thanks to Momtrends and the graphics, new characters and vehicles looked great. Check them out…

Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Skylanders)

After a delicious lunch, we moved on to a crafting project that fit with the new Skylanders SuperChargers’ vehicles – travel theme…DIY personalized luggage tags! They were super fun to make so if you’re interested, check out this DIY luggage tag tutorial.

Skylanders, SuperChargers, Starter Pack, Games, Kids, Vehicles, Toys, Travel, DIY Luggage Tag,

Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air!

Skylanders SuperChargers will launch September 20^th (holiday wish list!) and will be available on all major consoles and iPad making it a great option to bring along on vacation. In addition, many hotels offer gaming consoles in their kids clubs or available to borrow so if you’re planning a vacation with your Skylanders’ fans, be sure to ask before you go.

Skylanders, SuperChargers, Starter Pack, Games, Kids, Vehicles, Toys, Globetrotting Mommy, Primetime Parenting

Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Momtrends)

Here I am saying goodbye with my friend Esti at Primetime Parenting. Thanks again to Momtrends and Skylanders for a fun time.

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Toys that Travel: Crayola …

December 8, 2014 By admin

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!).