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Family Fun with Baby Loves …

November 12, 2014 By admin

Can you imagine a family friendly activity where kids can dance and sing under disco lights, moms can catch up with friends and dads can guzzle beer? It exists and its called Baby Loves Disco!

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Family Fun with Baby Loves Disco Dance Parties

My family and I were invited to check out the Boo Baby Boo Halloween Baby Loves Disco party in NYC last month and it was a fun time for all. Baby Loves Disco parties are held across the United States (New York, DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco) in super cool grown up venues like Le Poisson Rouge, DNA Lounge and World Cafe giving adults and kids a chance to feel grown up! I don’t know about you but I’m always happy to attend events that don’t take place in typical kiddie venues (not that there’s anything wrong with that…).

During November, the dance parties feature a Pajama Party theme (think come in your PJS, snack on Pop Tarts and late night snacks and jump on the bed dance contests!). Dress your best because there will be prizes for best family PJs…

Family Fun with Baby Loves Disco Dance Parties

The party we attended featured a variety of tables with activities for kids (like face painting, balloon twisting, arts and crafts, mini manis, tastings, etc.) and information for parents (Urban Sitter, CityMani, The Jewish Museum, Mommy Nearest, Happy Family, etc.). If you’re a new mom, this is a great way to get your bearings in the craziness of momhood.

Kids of all ages are welcome but most kids seemed to be in the 3-10 range at the event I attended. Have no fear if you have small children, Baby Loves Disco parties feature a dedicated play area with mats and toys for babies and tots.

The DJ did a great job keeping kids (and adults) entertained with fun commentary, dance lessons, and contests. When dancers worked up an appetite, super kid-friendly snacks (puffs, fruit pouches, pretzels, PB & banana roll ups, chips & salsa, etc.) and juice boxes were plentiful. Grown-ups could order from a fully stocked bar (at NYC nightclub prices, natch) so everyone stayed happy.

Winter is on its way and that means time to schedule some family friendly indoor activities. If you’ve got kids who like to boogie, this is a great pick for a staycation or vacation! The NYC Baby Loves Disco Pajama Party will take place on Sunday, November 23. Check the Baby Loves Disco events page for information on other cities and tickets.

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Somebody Come and Play! …

November 6, 2014 By admin

It was a cold and rainy day outside but when my daughter and I stepped into the “Somebody Come and Play” Sesame Street Exhibit at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, things suddenly turned warm and fuzzy. From life size characters like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Snuffleupagus to movies and memorabilia, this adorable exhibit showcases highlights from the show’s last 45 years with something to please children and adults alike.

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Somebody Come and Play! Checking out the Sesame Street Exhibit at the New York Public Library for the arts in Lincoln Center

If you live in NYC or if you’ll be passing through between now and January 31, 2015, its worth the trip, especially if you’ve got young children. My five-year old daughter ran around from section to section for a couple of hours, happily entertained. There are numerous scripts, photos, story boards, original art and music scores and other memorabilia from the archives as well as interactive exhibits for children.

Somebody Come and Play! Checking out the Sesame Street Exhibit at the New York Public Library for the arts in Lincoln Center

Kids can visit the Sesame Street steps (push a button and make Oscar pop out of his trash can!), watch show highlights, feel Muppet fur, and play in the art area featuring a gigantic chalk board. The day we went a special presentation of Follow That Bird was playing in the auditorium. If you visit on November 19, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland will be playing at 3pm and there are a number of seminars for adults.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza and the hours are Monday and Thursday noon to 8 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday noon to 6 pm. The Lincoln Center’s central plaza is a great spot for kids to run around before or after. Just look for the fountains and have fun!

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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.

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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!

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Adorable Halloween Costumes …

September 29, 2014 By admin

Tis the season for pumpkins and adorable Halloween costumes!

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Adorable Halloween Costumes for Little Globetrotters

I searched Pinterest high and low and here are my top five Halloween costumes for Globetrotting Kids…

1) This Baby Pilot DIY costume is just perfect for the under-one jet set.

2) How cute is this DIY Mini Eiffel Tower?

3) I just love these little DIY Pan Am Stewardess Costumes.

4) Do your kids love the Disney movie Planes? How about making this DIY Dusty Costume. Perfect for boys or girls.

5) No time to be crafty? This Ride in an Airplane Costume is great for kids of all ages.

What are your kids going to be this year?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest …

July 28, 2014 By admin

It’s time for back-to-school shopping and today I’m sharing my picks for the coolest backpacks. I was at a Momtrends Back-to-School event last week and learned that the hot fall colors are…..cobalt, orange and berry. Read on if your tots are starting Kindergarden like mine, college kids backpacking through Europe or anywhere in between…

Blue has always been my favorite color so I’m loving these cobalt backpacks for boys.