Globetrotting Mommy

From Family Adventures to Girlfriend Getaways

Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon …

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Most little girls love to host tea parties so you can imagine my daughter’s excited face when I told her we would be celebrating her fifth birthday with afternoon tea at The Plaza Hotel. Most of her teatime knowledge comes from Fancy Nancy (Pinkies up!) which meant she immediately started planning her “fancy” tea party outfit.

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

I thought about bringing along one of my daughter’s friends but then decided on the safer and saner option of bringing along one of my friends! The three of us arrived at The Plaza Hotel and settled into our cozy table at The Palm Court restaurant. After a warm welcome and extended conversations about the newly spruced up space and gigantic palm trees, we peeked at the menus.

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

The Palm Court offers a choice of three afternoon tea selections: The New Yorker (featuring bagels & lox and New York Style Cheesecake), the Champagne Tea (hello lobster roll and bubbly) and the Eloise Tea (classic favorites and lots of pink, pink, pink). Naturally, we all decided on the Eloise Tea…

My daughter debated between the strawberry lemonade and vanilla iced tea for a moment and eventually settled on the tea which was poured over frozen tea cubes (super fancy, right?). The grown-ups ordered the Tropical Garden tea which went nicely with the palm trees.

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Tea at the Plaza is as much a performance as it is a meal. The waitstaff team, always in sync, arrived with silver tiered trays filled with finger sandwiches and more. Our eyes widened… There were classics like egg salad on white bread and cucumber and cream cheese on rye, hearty turkey and Prosciutto options, and last but certainly not least, organic PB&J.

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Miss G tried everything and it was clear that the PB&J was the winner. Luckily, the waiter noticed and brought her out some more which she immediately finished off…

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Next, we moved on to the scones which were served with double Devonshire cream, lemon curd and preserves. These were a hit with everyone and went perfectly with the grown up tea. They were so good, I didn’t even manage to take a photo…

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

Just as our bellies were getting full, it was time for the grand finale – an impressive assortment of pastries, tarts, cupcakes and pink cotton candy served lollipop style on top of a pretzel rod. The cotton candy stole the show — so simple, yet so chic when delivered in silver cups. Everything was as delicious as it looked and we took what we couldn’t finish home for later.

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Fancy Treats in NYC: Afternoon Tea at The Plaza Hotel

This is definitely a once in while splurge that is perfect for a big birthday or celebration. Its also a fun treat for New Yorkers planning a staycation with or without kids. Don’t forget to visit the Eloise store downstairs afterwards…

Details: $55 per adult and $39 for kids under 12. ($60-$105 per person for the other teas)

What’s your favorite spot for afternoon tea?

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Spotlight on NYC: Once Upon A …

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Taking in the endless cultural opportunities in NYC with my daughter is one of our favorite things. Over the past few years, we’ve experienced a lot of the traditional winter holiday activities and this year I introduced my daughter to the New York Theatre Ballet’s Once Upon A Ballet series which kicked off with The Nutcracker.

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Spotlight on NYC: New York Theatre Ballet’s Once Upon a Ballet Series. Photo by Richard Termine

If you think your little ballerina is too young for the ballet, think again. The Once Upon A Ballet series is the perfect opportunity to introduce young children to classic ballet favorites in kid-friendly one-hour performances. This was just enough time for my five-year old to be mesmerized by the costumes and entertained by the dancing and not quite long enough to get hungry or bored. Win-win!

Upon entering Florence Gould Hall, kids are greeted by young dancers handing out programs, crayons and activity sheets. The venue is very comfortable and every seat is a good one even if there is a tall dad right in front of you! I was happy to see that I was surrounded by lots of parents with small children (no judgements here) and my daughter was equally excited to see all the little girls (and boys) dressed up in their holiday outfits.

When the first dancers came on stage, my daughter stared in awe.  As the story progressed, she asked questions, commented on the costumes and delighted in the international parade of sweets. We especially enjoyed watching the super cute junior ballerinas.

This weekend kicks off the ballet’s second show, Cinderella (February 7-8). If you’ve got a princess lover, this one is sure to please. We’ll be at the Sunday morning show so come say “hi.”

Next up, GOOSE! (March 7-8) which showcases various Mother Goose characters and Carnival of the Animals (June 6-7) about a shaggy lion and other animals in a magical forest.

If you’ve got a tiny dancer, you’ll definitely want to check these performances out!

Showtimes are 11 am, 1 pm and 3:30 pm so you won’t have a problem working around nap times. Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 for children and are available online at www.nytb.org, via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787, or in person at the Florence Gould Hall box office.

If you’re looking for kid-friendly stops before or after, the theater is walking distance from Serendipity 3, Dylan’s Candy Bar, FAO Schwartz, Eloise at the Plaza, Central Park Zoo and many other attractions.

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Thanks to the New York Theatre Ballet for providing our tickets.  As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Somebody Come and Play! …

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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.

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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

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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

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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How to host a Caribbean themed …

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My daughter recently requested a Caribbean themed party with dolphins for her 5th birthday.

This would have been super easy if it was summer and if we had a pool (and a backyard!) but for a New York City party in the fall, it took a little creativity. Read on to see my tips for hosting a festive, fun and relatively easy Caribbean themed birthday party…

Part one – Create an Under the Sea look

1) Blow up a million (or two hundred) balloons in varying shades of blue and spread them on the floor and/or hang them from the ceiling. I found these tiny tiny hooks from Command that made hanging super easy. Add in some giant beach balls, pool floats, mermaid dolls and inflatable blue dolphins…

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

2) Decorate the walls with crepe paper streamers in varying shades of green to look like seaweed. I used glue dots to make it nice and easy. Hang a happy birthday banner or letters, add some balloons (giant floating pina colada? Yes, please!), drape raffia around the table, add colorful decorations and you’re set.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

3) Make some adorable fish out of paper lanterns….I just bought matching paper for the fins and tails and traced out a pattern. Finish them with pom pom eyes and big red fish lips and hang with fishing wire. Too cute.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

Part two – Add some fun activities

4) Photo booths are fun for kids and adults. Tape a border to the wall, hang some pom pom flowers and throw some fun props and picture frames into a big colorful tub and you’re all set.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

5) My daughter is obsessed with Dolphins ever since we saw the Dolphin Tale 2 preview with The Moms. Move over donkey, we decided to play Pin the Tail on the Dolphin.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

6) Have a face painter, balloon twister and/or magician on hand or get some adults to help with these activities. Temporary fish or mermaid tattoos are another easy option.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

Part three – Time to chow down

7) We served goldfish crackers (of course), tropical fruit kebobs, and shell mac and cheese with hot dog octopuses (thanks Pinterest!). To drink we had pink lemonade, kiddie pina coladas, juices and water in fun palm tree and coconut cups with krazy straws.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

8) For the cake, she wanted a crab on top which was a strange request but I was just happy she didn’t say lobster. I made a round blue and white cake with candy/pretzel palm trees, a brown sugar beach and blue candy ocean (sixlets, m&ms, Jelly Belly, and rock candy. Oh my). I made the crab out of red fondant and it was much easier than I expected. If you’ve ever handled Play Doh, you’ll have no worries here.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

9) I made mini fish cupcakes for the kids because I didn’t want 14 kids screaming at me telling me which part of the cake they had to have. Is this just a NYC thing? Anyway, the cupcakes were a little time consuming because you need to sort the mini m&ms and make the different colored frosting but they were super cute.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps

Part four – Send them home

10) After two hours, your ears will be throbbing and everyone will be ready to go home. For a parting gift, we gave everyone these cute HEXBUG Aquabot fishies which fit in nicely with the theme and didn’t involve candy. That’s a win win in birthday party world. Some of my other ideas were kinetic sand and make your own dolphin out of clay kits.

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How to host a Caribbean themed party in 10 easy steps.

And there you have it. Although this was a birthday party, I think these ideas could be tweaked for a cute Caribbean themed baby shower as well. For more fun party ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

 

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Top 5 Family Friendly …

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This is probably going to be one of the last nice weekends before the Polar Vortex strikes again so get your costumes ready and check out these family friendly Halloween activities.

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Top 5 Family Friendly Halloween Activities in NYC

1) Circle Line’s Halloween Ball Kids Costume Cruise

Want to combine a Halloween activity with a little sightseeing?  You’ll love Circle Line’s special Halloween Ball – Kids Costume Cruise. I reviewed this family friendly cruise this summer and it was so much fun.  Kids are in for a spooky fun time with a strolling magician and face painter and everyone will enjoy the amazing NYC views.

When and where: Saturday, October 25. Pier 83 (West 42nd St. and 12th Ave.) Boarding begins at 9:30 am and the cruise sails from 10 am – 11:15 am.

2) Baby Loves Disco’s Boo Baby Boo Halloween Spectacular

Does your baby love to boogie?  Check out Baby Loves Disco’s Halloween themed dance party on Sunday. Come in costume and bring your dancing shoes! There will be kid-friendly activities like balloon sculpting, crafting, mini manis and a costume contest. I’ll be there with my daughter so come by and say hi! If you can’t make it, the next one is a Pajama Party on November 23 – just roll our of bed and come in your PJs!  How fun.

When and Where: Sunday, October 26. Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker) from noon – 3

3) Haunted High Line

Check out the spooky transformation of the High Line at its 4th annual family Halloween celebration, the Haunted High Line. Kids can trick-or-treat with the Mad Cookie Man and the West Side Cowboy, create Halloween art, explore the haunted train tunnel created by students from the School of Visual Arts, and learn about the creation of the High Line and the spooky history of Manhattan’s West Side.

When and Where: Saturday, October 25. The High Line (14th to 17th Streets) from 11 am – 3 pm.

4) Boo at the Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is always a hit with kids of all ages and one of my favorite times to visit is for Boo at the Zoo. Come this weekend (and Columbus day or Halloween) and you’ll enjoy hay mazes, costume parades, musical performances, magic shows, a Dinosaur Safari and more. Bring your camera and don’t miss the Jack O’Lantern Illumination, a dark passageway filled with hundreds of intricately carved and illuminated pumpkins. Buy your tickets online and save $5 off each ticket.

When and Where: The Bronx Zoo. Weekends through November 2 from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

5) Halloween Kidz Karnival

Hudson River Park is transforming Tribeca’s Pier 26 into a wickedly wild Halloween Kidz Karnival. Dress in costume and enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, rides, snacks and more.  Story Pirates will put on a Halloween-themed improv show that’s sure to thrill. This is a great not too scary option for young kids.

When and Where:  October 26. Noon to 5 pm. Hudson River Park’s Pier 26

Happy almost Halloween.  Are you still looking for costume ideas?

 

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Around the World in NYC this …

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If you’ll be in New York City this Sunday, August 3, head over to Union Square for some free globetrotting fun at the IYF Culture Exhibition. We checked it out last weekend and really loved all the amazing dance performances from around the world (India, South Africa, Jamaica, Russia, Korea and more…) and multi-cultural exhibits.

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Around the World in NYC

Booths were set up on the periphery with toys, games and dolls, costumes galore, and cultural artifacts from around the world. There were also arts and crafts activities, face painting, photo ops and various multi-cultural demonstrations. My 4-year old daughter especially enjoyed learning about Chinese Checkers (my childhood fave), playing with musical instruments and the life size llama. I sorta wanted to take him home…

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Around the World in NYC

If you’ll be in the area between 10 am and 5 pm, check it out. The nearby Evelyn’s Playground is always a fun pit stop and there are tons of great kid-friendly spots to grab lunch in the hood like Clarke’s Standard, Coffee Shop and Max Brenner.

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Fun Food Friday: A Taste of …

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New York City is home to some of best food trucks offering up flavors from all over the world.  If you’re looking to savor a sweet treat from Belgium, just start searching for the closest yellow Wafels & Dinges truck (or cart).

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Fun Food Friday: A Taste of Belgium with Wafels & Dinges

The Belgian waffle debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, when a Belgian restauranteur served his wife’s famed recipe. The Wafels & Dinges trucks offer up this classic brussels version as well the liege wafel, a soft and chewy version. There are savory wafels as well as ice creams and coffees but you’ll really want to stick with the sweet ones. Once you pick your wafel, you can select from the dinges or toppings like dulce de leche (fresh from Argentina), Vermont maple syrup, Belgian chocolate fudge, spekuloos spread, whipped cream, Nutella, fruit and more.

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Fun Food Friday: A Taste of Belgium with Wafels & Dinges

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Fun Food Friday: A Taste of Belgium with Wafels & Dinges

Looks good, right? Check out their website to find a truck or cart near you or call the Hot Wafeline at 866-429-7329. You can also follow them on Twitter to be updated on specials and truck locations.

Bon appetit!

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on …

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Summer is here and there’s no better way to see New York City’s sights than by sea.  Circle Line cruises have always been a favorite for tourists and locals alike but if you’ve got kids, you’ll want to check out Circle Line’s Kids Cruises.

I took my husband, my daughter and my broken foot on the Summer Sizzling Radio Disney Dance Party cruise last weekend and we had a fabulous time.  These Circle Line Kids Cruises, available on select Saturday mornings now through October, offer a kid-friendly version of the classic sightseeing cruise with special guests and fun kids activities.  

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

The 75-minute cruise departs from Circle Line’s Pier 83 at 42nd street.  Depending on the cruise theme, there are entertainers on the main floor and activities like face painting, magic shows and balloon twisters upstairs.  On our cruise, the Radio Disney team led dance contests (think freeze dance, etc.) and giveaways.  You’ll want to be upstairs to get the best views but don’t rush to take photos of the Statue of Liberty when you first see her, you’ll get a better view with fewer crowds as the boat circles back around. You’re welcome.

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

The weather was spectacular, the sights were gorgeous, the sky was blue and the Annie soundtrack was playing in the background.  It was a classic NYC moment and it was great being able to share an experience from my childhood with my little daughter. Here’s what you missed:

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

It was so much fun. Here are the themes and dates for upcoming Kid Cruises:

July 12 – Liberty Day with Maddie from the WNBA team New York & Baze and His Silly Friends

July 26 – Star Wars Rebels Party

August 9 – Pirate and Princess Party: The Power of Doing Good

August 23 – Baze and His Silly Friends & the Berenstain Bears

October 25 – Halloween Ball Kids Costume Cruise

Here’s what you need to know:

Tickets cost $29 for adults and $20 for kids ages 3-12.

Boarding starts at 9:15 am and the cruise departs at 10 am.  Food and drinks are available for purchase and there is a dedicated stroller parking area. The main deck is completely handicapped accessible and the crew were helpful with boarding. If you’re wondering how I got upstairs, I hopped up and down on my good foot.

If you’re driving, there is a parking lot right at the terminal ($35 for the day) which is worth it if you’re going to explore the nearby kid-friendly attractions, parks and restaurants like the Intrepid Museum, North River Lobster Company, and Lucky Strike Bowling.

To see the entire schedule of Circle Line Cruises visit http://www.circleline42.com/.

We headed over to a nearby pier afterwards which had a cute interactive water playground, grassy spots and scenic views. I’m always amazed to discover these hidden spots.

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

Bon voyage…

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I received complimentary tickets for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

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Top five Vacation or …

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Looking to do something fun for Mother’s Day weekend at home or away?  Act fast and book one of these five options.

For moms who love music:

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Globetrotting Mommy Mother’s Day Ideas: Tunes with Tina at Langham Place, Fifth Avenue

Mother’s Day Brunch is always a win but Tunes with Tina at NYC’s Langham Place, Fifth Avenue is a family friendly sing-along brunch that ensures mom will enjoy a civilized meal while the kiddies are entertained.  Families can join in as Tina deVaron sings a mix of pop hits, Disney Classics and other family favorites.  Chef David Vandenabeele’s menu features Belgian Waffles, Breakfast Pizzas, Quiches, Breakfast Sandwiches, Scotch Egg and more as well as a selection of desserts and sweets. So basically, mom can enjoy yummy brunch and a mimosa or two while the kiddies sing Let it Go to their heart’s delight.  That’s a win-win in my book. Be sure to bring your video camera because Measure Lounge is a much better backdrop than your toy-filled living room.

If you’re looking for a family getaway filled with fun adventures and dancing, famed kids musician Moey is welcoming fans with a Mother’s Day Getaway Package at Vermont’s Wilberton Inn.  The package includes a Saturday Night Family Disco Party, Farm Fresh Mother’s Day Brunch and a Mother’s Day Moey Concert.  The inn features a mix of bed-and-breakfast rooms as well as cottages and a 14-bedroom mansion making this a great pick for family reunions.  Rates start at $150 per night for Mother’s Day weekend so pack your princess dresses and boas and head on over.

For moms who love pampering:

Mom can retreat to the beach for some well-deserved R&R with the Girlfriend Getaway Package at the Grand Lucayan on Grand Bahama Island.  The getaway includes a two-night stay in an Ocean View Room, daily breakfast at Willy Broadleaf, manicures and pedicures at the Senses Spa and poolside cocktails at Hammerheads Bar.  I can’t think of a more relaxing way to spend Mother’s Day. Can you? Rates start at $211 per night (mention code GIRLS).

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Globetrotting Mommy Mother’s Day Ideas: theBalm Mom travel package at Stanford Court

Stanford Court in San Francisco is offering theBalm Mom travel package where moms will enjoy a visit to theBalm Cosmetics’ new flagship store located in the hip Mission District.  Moms will be greeted with a glass of champagne before they enjoy a deluxe makeover complete with a recorded take-home iPad tutorial video demonstrating the step-by-step makeup application process.  Moms will also receive eyebrow waxes and select products from theBalm’s cosmetic line, including customized 9-well eye shadow palettes from the “Eye Shadow Bar” and more.  Aside from the pampering, guests will enjoy overnight accommodations at Stanford Court, complimentary breakfast for two at Aurea Lounge and town car transportation to and from the store.  This sounds like a great mother/daughter getaway to me.

For moms who love getting crafty:

Make Meaning is one of my favorite spots to get crafty in NYC because they offer up so many different types of projects (soaps, ceramics, cookies, etc.).  For Mother’s Day, four of their stores (Upper East and Upper West in NYC and Legacy Place Scottsdale Quarter in Arizona and Thousand Oaks in California) will be featuring Tea-Tin & Cookie Decorating sessions for kids of all ages.  For just $35, moms and kids can personalize tea tins and decorate cookies with step-by-step personalized instruction.  Once completed, you’ll select three teas for the tin making it a great gift for any mom or grandma.

If you still need a Mother’s Day present, check out my Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

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Spotlight on NYC: Tours for …

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New York City kids are exposed to a lot of amazing cultural experiences and its great how many of the top NYC museums cater to their tiniest visitors.  If you’ve got a 4-year old, you’ve got to check out the Museum of Modern Art’s (MOMA) complimentary Tours for 4’s weekend family gallery talks.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Spotlight on NYC: Tours for 4s at MOMA

Tickets are distributed at 10 am on a first-come, first-served basis so arrive on time.  Participants are given tokens to check coats in lockers which is a nice touch.  We visited in February for the Breaking the Mold: Materials and Techniques gallery talk and our group had about 10 kids and their parents.  Our tour guide Shannon reviewed the rules for visiting the museum and we were on our way.  We stopped at a few exhibits and the kids were asked for their thoughts along the way as the guide explained about the artwork and artists like Isa Genzken.  My daughter’s favorite part was the age appropriate art projects they got to do on the floor involving designs and textures.  The tour lasts about an hour and then you are free to explore on your own.  Be sure to check out the Moma Art Lab where you can play, read, experiment and create your own stop-animation movies.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Spotlight on NYC: Tours for 4s at MOMA

Upcoming weekend themes for the Tours for 4s program include:

March – Shape Shifting

April – Faces and Figures:  People and Portraits

May – From Furry to Feathered:  Animals in Art

If your kids are older, check out the MOMA’s A Closer Look for Kids and Tours for Tweens programs.

If you’ll be visiting NYC with kids this spring or summer, these programs would be a nice addition to your itinerary.  The MOMA is centrally located near a lot of family friendly attractions and kid-friendly stores including Central Park, Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwartz, LEGO Store, American Girl Store and the Eloise Shop at the Plaza.

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