I wanted to share another yummy recipe and this one is perfect for the holidays! These Peppermint Fudge Filled Cookies are delicious, try them and let me know what you think.
This Peppermint Fudge Filled Cookies recipe makes 14 cookies, if you would like to make more cookies, only use 1 tbsp of dough per cookies to get approx. 28 cookies.
Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
Add in egg, egg yolk, peppermint and vanilla extracts and mix until thoroughly combined.
Add cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt. Mix just until combined.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make balls out of 2-tbsp. dough each (or 1-tbsp if you want more but smaller cookies). Roll balls in the remaining ½ c. sugar. and place on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Make a deep cavity in each cookie, using your thumb or the back of a measuring spoon.
Chill cookies on baking sheet for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Bake cookies on center rack of oven for 4 minutes, rotate baking sheet, then bake for an additional 4 minutes. If the indentations have lost their shape, push your thumb or measuring spoon in again to remake.
Cool in pan for about 10-min. then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.
Chocolate Ganache
Place chocolate, cream and vanilla extract into microwave-safe dish and microwave in 15-second increments, until melted. Stir with each 15-second increment. Chill until mixture thickens.
Whip chilled ganache with mixer until fluffy.
Either spoon or pipe ganache into each cookie and immediately sprinkle with crushed peppermint.
I hope you enjoy these delicious Peppermint Fudge Filled Cookies.
Find retailers with free shipping, discounts, reward program, plus holiday shipping deadlines to receive your gifts before December 25th.
I love holiday shopping online because it’s so much easier now to find the best deals and to be time efficient shopping virtually. There are lots of benefits to online holiday shopping. With supply chain issues and more people shopping online, here is my 2021 Online Holiday Shopping Guide to help you find free shipping, curbside pick-up options, and a shipping deadline calendar so your gifts are delivered before December 25th.
2021 Holiday Shipping Deadlines!
USPS
If you’re shipping holiday cards and gifts for Christmas using the USPS, the shipping deadlines are December 15th to December 23rd. You can view your options here.
FedEx
If you’re using FedEx for shipping for delivery, you will need to ship between December 9th – 25th. You can find all of your FedEx shipping options here.
UPS
If you plan to use UPS, your shipping deadlines will be between December 21st and December 23rd. You can view all of your shipping options here.
Amazon with Amazon Prime Trial,remember to set a reminder if you’re only interested in the trial.
An Amazon Prime account is also worth investing in because there are so many advantages in addition to free shipping! Read up on all of the perks of a membership here! Check out my Amazon store here with all of my favorite products and my Amazon gift guides.
H&M is one of my favorite stores this season, the sweater I’m wearing above is from H&M.
H&M is offering free shipping on all orders $40+!
Also, sign up for a free H&M membership. Since last year, I’ve been a member, and they always offer discounts, coupons for in-store and online; plus, it’s a great way to keep track of your purchases if you ever need to make a return or exchange a product.
Their shipping times are sometimes super delayed, though, so order early. I’ve gotten my orders anywhere from within two days to almost one month from them recently.
Target offers multiple online shopping options like curbside pickup, in-store pickup, same-day, which are always free, and two-day shipping on orders $35+. Download the Target app and use it for Target Circle offers and to keep track of your purchases.
Walmart offers free one-day and two-day shipping on qualifying products on online orders $35+. Walmart also offers curbside, and in-store pick-up options.
Pottery Barn Kids is currently offering free shipping on order with the code COZY before 11/30 as well as free curbside pick-up. Also, Pottery Barn Kids offers a 15% off military discount. Shop Pottery Barn Kids here!
Carter’s is offering free shipping on orders $35+, as well as in-store and curbside pickup. If you’re not signed up for their rewards program yet, and you’re a parent, you need to do so ASAP; they send lots of coupons and deals to your email. Shop Carters here!
Adidas is offering free shipping on orders $100+. Join the Adidas Creators Club to unlock unlimited free standard shipping and start earning points on every order. Shop Adidas!
Old Navy is known for cute matching family pajamas, holiday socks and sweaters. They’re offering free shipping on orders $50+! They also offer free curbside or in-store pickup. Shop Old Navy here!
The North Face offers free standard shipping! They also offer 10% off for students, and military. They also provide a 10% off discount for the first order for healthcare workers and first responders. You can verify with the appropriate ID for the discount online. Just scroll to the bottom of their website to find all of the discount options. Shop at The North Face here!
Shein is offering free shipping on all orders and free expedited shipping on orders $199+. Shein ships from overseas so place your orders with them as early as possible. You can shop Shein here!
Apple is offering free shipping on all orders! They also offer discounted pricing for homeschool teachers, college students and their parents, faculty and staff. You can shop Apple here!
The Children’s Place offers free shipping on all orders! They have super cute matching family outfits for the holidays and they’re affordable. Shop The Children’s Place here!
Ugg offers free shipping on all full-priced items! They offer 10% off full priced items to students, military, registered educators, first responders, medical professionals, and military personnel. You will have to verify your status through our partners at SheerID on their website under the Promotions and Discounts tab. Shop Ugg here!
Sephora offers free shipping for all orders $50+; they also offer in-store pickup. Be sure to sign up for their free Beauty Insider rewards program to get rewards for your shopping and a birthday gift. Shop Sephora here!
Bloomingdales will be offering free shipping on all online orders for Bloomingdales Loyalist, if you haven’t done so sign up for their program as you can also accumulate rewards of $25 for every $100 you spend. Shop Bloomingdales here!
20 Super Easy Holiday Desserts to Make This Holiday Season!
I was standing in the supermarket checkout line yesterday, and I kept thinking about how different this holiday season will be. We wouldn’t have the same access to our friends and family as we usually do as we try to remain safe and keep them safe. This will be tough for my kids as they LOVE getting the spend time with relatives during the holidays. That’s why I’m looking forward to making memories with them in the kitchen this year. Since the pandemic started, we’ve spent more and more time together cooking and baking, and this holiday season, we’re looking forward to trying more recipes. In preparation, I decided to round-up 20 super easy holiday desserts to make:
I’m looking forward to trying some of these easy holiday recipes this Christmas and New Year with my family; if you decide to try them too, please let me know.
This Best Wooden Toys for Kids Gift Guide contains affiliate links!
As a mom, I’ve seen a lot of toys circulate in my home. I’ve noticed that some toys stand the test of time while others don’t. I’ve noticed that a lot of those are wooden toys. While wooden toys do not always have the same appeal as some of the holidays’ hottest toys, they’re usually made of better quality and are a good investment for families. As the holiday season nears, I wanted to share this gift guide with the best wooden toys for kids. I shared options from different online retailers so you can take advantage of any sales and deals within the upcoming weeks.
Click on the links and photos below to purchase or learn more about the products!
If you look around any Montessori classroom, the chances of you finding this wooden rainbow stacking game are very high- and for a good reason. The vibrant colors will draw any child in for playing, and its unique shape helps kids’ imagination to soar and helps them develop their engineering skills through the hundreds of builds that this toy can create.
For generations, parents have been keeping toddlers engaged and happy with wooden blocks. I think we all have fond memories of creating with them during our childhood. These sets are fantastic for imaginative play as well as to encourage independent or collaborative play. Like the rainbow stacking game above, this set has bright, vibrant colors that make them even more fun and attractive to toddlers. Some of these wooden blocks sets are also magnetic.
This shape sorting and stacking toy is the perfect educational gift for toddlers. They can learn color recognition and shapes and gain basic knowledge of geometry through play with this toy.
Sensory bins are great for open-ended play for preschoolers in the classroom or at home. They help preschoolers develop and perfect for learning through play. A wooden sensory bin tools set is a beautiful gift for kids. You can just about any container as a sensory bin, but it’s great to have the tools to facilitate play.
Montessori Screw Driver Board for Preschoolers
One of my kids’ past teachers suggested the Montessori Screw Driver Board as an excellent gift to strengthen kids’ hands for writing while they’re having fun. It’s such a cute toy yet very practical and useful for their developmental skills.
Another classic that many of us played with as children! Wooden lacing beads are perfect for helping little hands develop fine motor skills and help your kids focus.
My two older kids both learned to tell the time with these wooden clocks. They’re an excellent way for kids to learn and to play.
All About today
With many of us parents opting to delay preschool this year because of the pandemic, we can bring preschool home to our little ones by investing in a toy like the All About Today.
You can use it to help your preschooler learn about the days of the week, weather, seasons, and time.
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I hope you found some great gift ideas for the kids on your nice list this year. Check out other gift guides here.
Gift Guide: Best STEM Toys of 2020 for Kids of All Ages.
As a parent and homeschool mom, I always have my eye out for educational toys for my children. I have to say that over the last decade of parenting, new toys keep getting more sophisticated, engaging, and fun. With the holidays approaching, I wanted to share the best stem toys of 2020 for kids of all ages. I know firsthand that finding the perfect toys can feel overwhelming, so I’m happy to curate this list of classic and new STEM toys your kids would be thrilled to receive.
Keep Reading for the Best Stem Toys of 2020 for kids of All Ages!
This set is great for kids; it’s the type of toy they can grow with. The colors are bright and engaging. You can create almost anything with this kit, and it’s going to be one of the most popular toys this holiday season. If you want your child to learn through play, this is one of the best toy sets to develop their early engineering skills!
LEGO STEM Toys
Since I started homeschooling my children, we’ve been using LEGOs more and more as part of our lessons. The great thing about LEGOs is that you can find sets for kids of all age groups.
My toddler loves building with her LEGO Duplo Classic Brick Box set. The great thing about this set is that there are many possibilities of things she can make, they’re simple, fun, and the best part is that it comes with a storage box, so it’s easy to store.
What kid doesn’t love building forts? It’s the perfect activity to have fun and learn all about basic building concepts. This fort construction kit takes that to another level with the tools to be as creative as your child wants to be. This kit has over 85 pieces; your child can construct awesome forts, homes, ships, bridges, etc. the sky is the limit on what they can create. This Fort Construction kit is kids five and older, and you can purchase one HERE!
This kit of rainbow disc sets is perfect for preschoolers to help them learn basic STEM concepts. Through their fun shape and bright rainbow colors, kids will lose track of time playing with them. Watch as your child build their fine motor development, enhance cognitive color skills, and establish their creativity. You can get one here!
I’ve shared our love for Magformers in previous gift guides, and it makes it back to the list in 2020 because the quality of their products stands the test of time. You kids can build and create ways that will surprise you while they build up the engineering part of their brains. I love that they have sets for every budget and to fit different interests. My kids have the Magformers in Motion set, and it’s fun to watch all of the other things they make and see them figure out how to make it move. See all of the different Magformers sets here.
Get your preschoolers a jump start on coding with this toy, they can program it move however they want it to move. It’s perfect for preschoolers to learn through play and get their first exposure to coding. Check out the Code-a-Pillar here.
This game is a classic, it’s been around for a while and that’s for a reason. It’s great for helping kids with number recognition and to improve their basic arithmetic skills. It’s one of my go-to gifts for preschoolers. Plus, since it’s made out of wood it more durable and the colors and shapes make it fun. These are all a win in my book!
I hope got some ideas for your holiday shopping from this STEM toys gift guide.
This Empowering Gifts for Tween Girls post includes affiliate links and some products were gifted to me. As always, all opinions are my own.
My older daughter is now nine years old, and it’s been so beautiful to watch her grow. I feel like this is the age where her personality is starting to shape. I listen to her as she makes decisions and watch as her interests evolve. I try my best to let her be her and to guide her into discovering what HER best self is, so I always let her lead. It’s important to me though, that she feels empowered; she’s still questioning why women aren’t in certain fields or even checks me when I use the term he instead of she. So this year, I wanted to her have gifts that would help her to grow in self-confidence, and I’m sure you want to do the same for your girls too, so here is my guide of empowering gifts for tween girls.
American Girl Smart Girl Guide Kits
My daughter has been obsessed with American Girl since she was four years old. I have to admit we’ve spoiled her, and she now has a collection of dolls. This year, I wanted to give her a gift that encompasses her love for American Girl, but it is perfect for her interests. She loves the American Girl books, so I knew she would be a fan of the American Girl Smart Girl Guide Kits. The kits are for girls age 8+ and are built around one of the Smart Girl Guide Books.
There are six different kits; Smart Girl Guide Kits: Worry, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Liking Herself, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Cooking, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Digital World and Smart Girl Guide Kit: Friendship Troubles. Each kit includes an adorable mini-doll, and when you order the kit, you can select a doll of your preference.
This is a really great wellness gift for young girls and a great way to start teaching them about self-care. American Girl was nice enough to send us two kits and I selected the Smart Girl Guide Kit: Liking Herself and Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness for my daughter.
Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness
Since she plays basketball and is in the middle of her first tournament, I thought that the Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness would be perfect for her. The book has excellent tips on everything from how to prepare for games, nutrition, stretching, team spirit to how to navigate the stress of game days. Besides the book, the box came with an American Girl water bottle, backpack, inspirational bracelets, and the mini-doll.
Smart Girl Guide to Liking Herself Kit
The Smart Girl Guide to Liking Herself Kit includes the Liking Herself book, of course, the most adorable smile journal, a “You Are Loved” heart bracelet, an iridescent pen, and a mini-doll.
Mantra necklaces
We can’t be with the tween girls in our lives every minute of the day to whisper encouraging messages, so I love the idea of motivational necklaces they can wear to keep our voice close to them. I remember my grandmother buying me a necklace that said I love you when I was nine and how much good that made me feel. I found some great options on Amazon for our girls.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of affirmations. I say affirmations with my kids every morning and encourage them to do power poses. I’m happy to gift my daughter affirmation cards this year so she can find ones that speak to her and her interests. Louis Hay is known for her amazing affirmations, so I thought her cards, although they’re not specifically for kids, would be perfect.
We’re huge fans of the Rebel Girl books and podcast! I’ve shared reviews of both books one and two before, so I’m glad to gift my daughter the third addition, the I am a Rebel Girl Journal. All three will be a great gift set if your daughter doesn’t have these incredibly inspiring books yet.
I hope this guide was helpful for you to find empowering gifts for tween girls in your life.
Before I became a mom, I remember walking past all the families visiting Santa at the mall with their well-dressed kids during the holidays and thinking to myself that one day I will be that mom too. The holidays are different with kids, it’s a little more magical, and although in our home we’re honest with our kids about Santa’s existence, we still love him for a photo opp every year. A few of the moms in our neighborhood here in Queens have been encouraging me to try HGTV Santa HQ at Queens Center Mall for sometime now. They’ve taken their kids a few times and loved it, and since I trust their judgment, I decided to take my toddler this week. It was terrific, and I wanted to share my experience at HGTV Santa HQ at Queens Center Mall for those of you planning to make reservations.
What makes HGTV Santa HQ at Queens Center Mall different?
I’ve been a mom for 9 years now and most Santa visits are basically the same—your family lines up to see Santa, snap a pic, print your photo, pay and go your merry way. HGTV Santa HQ was definitely different from beginning to end. As a modern mom, I love, love, love how creatively HGTV Santa HQ integrates technology into a tradional experience to make it fun for the family.
Naughty or Nice Meter
I was impressed from the moment we started with the Naughty or Nice Meter. I loved seeing my toddler’s name up on the nice list and I could tell from other kids it was really exciting to see their names on the interactive board.
Elf Academy
Next we moved on to the Elf Academy which is the newest addition to Santa HQ. There we transformed into one of Santa’s elves by looking into the Magic Mirror at the Elf Academy using augmented reality. We were able to pick different elves styles as well as different outfits. There are tablets available to create a customized Elf ID with information like name, favorite food etc. that you can text or email to yourself.
Santa Observatory
My daughter loved Santa’s Observatory where she was able to operate Santa’s sleigh and explore more augmented reality vision experiences where you could see Santa’s elves busy at work preparing presents.
After Santa’s Observatory, we moved on to Santa who was waiting with a book to read to my daughter. We went during the week so it wasn’t busy when we went and Santa didn’t rush us off. This was definitiely one of the nicer Santa’s we’ve met and he walked around and greeted everyone.
Overall HGTV’s Santa HQ was a fun way for our family to bond during our holiday visit with Santa this year. I appreciated the state-of-the-art digital technology and the beautiful design. This holiday experience is good mix of fun, family, home, and traditions with the help of some of our favorite HGTV personalities.
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’ve stood on line for over one hour to see Santa with my kids in the past. I love that HGTV Santa HQ offers a Fast Pass so we can spend our time enjoying our loved ones during the hoildays and not on a long line waiting. Head here to secure your fast pass and prepurchase a photo package and choose from a 30 minute window to use the Fast Pass. When you purchase it, you can also sign up for text alerts in regards to your Fast Pass.
Location
You can find a Santa HQ location close to you here. As I mentioned I went to Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, Queens. Here are a few things to know if you want to check out that location:
You can find Santa HQ on L2 Centercourt across from the Starbucks.
Dates
November 7th, 2019 to Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2019.
Times
November 15th – November 30th, 2019
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM-9:00 PM, No Breaks
Sundays (11/17, 11/24): 11:00 AM-6:00 PM, No Breaks
Thursday (11/28): Closed for Thanksgiving.
Black Friday (11/29) 10:00 AM-9:00 PM, No Breaks
December 1st – December 8th, 2019
Sun (12/1, 12/08): 11:00 AM-6:00 PM, No Breaks
Monday to Saturday (12/2-12/14): 10:00 AM-9:00 PM, No Breaks
December 15th – December 24th, 2019
Sun (12/15): 10:00 AM-8:00 PM, No Breaks
Mon – Mon (12/16-12/23): 9:00 AM-9:00 PM, No Breaks
Tuesday (12/24) Christmas Eve: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM, No Breaks
Breakfast with Santa PJ Party Event
Breakfast with Santa PJ Party December 7th from 8:00 am -10:00 am in the Food Court (Kids Club). There will be a DJ and a special dance performance from All-Star Studios.
HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving Drive
HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving Drive is the perfect way to show kids how to give back to the community. You can donate toys
for underserved children during the holiday season. In past years, HGTV’s Help Through Holiday Giving has collected more than
66,000 toys benefiting local organizations such as Forgotten Angel Tree,
Salvation Army Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, and Spark of Love Stuff a Bus.
Yes, the new mom in your life just had the best gift ever but it’s nice to think of her too during the post-partum period. I had three kids and as beautiful as those days post-baby are they’re also the days that new moms tend to feel forgotten or even forget about themselves. If you have a new mom in your life, let her know that she’s not forgotten too and show you love by getting her one of these gifts for moms that aren’t for the baby.
Meal-kit Service
Lack of sleep and baby’s 24-hour need for care and attention means she wouldn’t have any time to cook, grocery shop or prepare meals. Give for the gift of a meal kit service like Hello Fresh, Freshly or Blue Apron.
High-Waisted Leggings
She’s going need to feel fabulous and comfortable especially during the first weeks while she’s still healing. Gift her some good quality leggings that she can lounge around in or wear when she goes out. I’m a big fan of Spanx leggings, they’re great quality and provides support in the right places plus they’re stylish and perfect for cool moms.
Anything will make her feel good from lashes, hair cut, massages, mani/pedi. Get her a gift card to a local salon she can use for one or more of these services. It will give her a much-needed break and help her feel good about herself. Spafinder is one of the easiest ways to get a gift card that can be used across the country at many different salons.
Trendy Sneakers
She’s going to need comfortable shoes now so get her a cute pair of sneakers that would match her personality. Here are some cute options.
Bras
Pregnancy brings so many changes to a woman’s body and it’s rare that a woman’s bra size doesn’t change. Getting her fitted for a new bra and buying her good quality bras is a gift she would really appreciate.
Coffee Machine
You probably know by now that most moms survive with coffee especially those long nights with the baby. She will love you forever if you gift her a coffee machine like these from Keurig and Nespresso. If you’re on a tight budget opt for a gift card to her favorite coffee shop instead.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a lifesaver to hide puffy eyes and dark circles when you’re a new mom. Gift her a trendy pair so she can still feel dressed up and gorgeous.
Wireless Speakers
Whether it’s to listen to her favorite podcasts or lullabies with her baby, she would love wireless speakers.
Trendy Hair Accessories
I hope you found some cool gift ideas in this guide.
I knew there was a black Santa at Macy’s Herald Square Santaland because I saw moms on social media posting photos with him but I wasn’t sure how my family could meet him. Then I saw this video from The Root and I learned all that I needed to know, there is a code name for the black Santa, all I needed to do was ask for Mr. Claus. I wouldn’t lie, it sucks that we need a code name for a black Santa but I like having an option that looks like our family (there is a Latino Santa too).
Yesterday, we decided on a whim at 3:00 pm after we finished laundry to take the kids to meet Mr. Claus. I made reservations for us online and we hopped on an LIRR into the city. We arrived at Santaland, on the 8th floor of Macy’s Herald Square at 5:56 pm and one of the elves checked us in and told us to join a line. We were definitely a little disappointed that we had to stand on a line after making reservations and contemplated leaving but ultimately decided to stick it out.
When we made it into Santaland the kids were mesmerized by Santa’s workshop, the gingerbread houses, and Santa’s sleigh. We made our way to the gatekeeper who we told the code word, we wanted to see Mr. Claus and he pushed a button that called a really fun and happy elf (think Buddy from the movie ELF).
Our elf walked us to meet with Mr. Claus, a chatty Santa. He asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas and they played along by telling him the first thing on their holiday wish list. My daughter asked for a unicorn and my son asked for a Black Panther toy, the baby didn’t answer but he joked that he understood her.
We got photos with our personal camera and phones as well as purchased photos from Macy’s, purchasing photos are optional so you don’t have to pay for them if you don’t like them.
That side eye.
ps: If you’re planning to visit Santaland elves recommended that the best time to visit Macy’s Santa Land this holiday season is during the week, during the day while most kids are at school. If that’s not an option for you like it wasn’t for us, weekday evenings are your next best bet.
Okay, is it me or finding the perfect pair of leggings is really, really, really hard? I want great coverage, a high-waist and quality pair that I feel fabulous in. Simple desires right? Well, I’ve been through some really tragic pairs so I’m obsessed with this gorgeous pair by Spanx. The Ponte Velvet Side Stripe Leggings are EVERYTHING! They’re so perfect that earlier this week I wore them to a holiday dinner date with my hubby. Yes, you read that correctly, I wore these leggings to a holiday dinner date and got tons of compliments. These are no regular leggings, I like to call them my fancy pants because they’re very stylish.
When I first received them and tried them on, I did my best catwalk around the house and asked Mr. Rattles for his thoughts on them and he said “They looked great!” then followed up with “Are those pants or leggings?” I understand his confusion because even my cousin a certified fashionista (people still say fashionista tright?) told me “Those are really jazzy leggings!”
Let me tell you now, my fancy pants will be in heavy rotation for the holidays as they look great dressed up as you see here with a lace bell sleeve top (Yes, I’m still obsessed with bell sleeves) and they also look great casual with a chunky sweater and boots. I’m also really looking forward to wearing them when I’m traveling.
Oh, and you know that little mama pouch some of us got from carrying those cute little babies, these leggings are very forgiving which is what we need for those worry areas.
For the holiday dinner party, I wore black lace because you can never go wrong with lace during the holidays and my favorite sparkly shoes. ‘Tis the season for lace, velvet and sparkles.
[Tweet “‘Tis the season for lace, velvet and sparkles.”]
ps: Wouldn’t this be the perfect look for New Years Eve celebration too?
There’s a reason that so many of our favorite holiday movies are based here in New York City. The city is magical during the holiday season with bright lights, exciting parades, the most beautiful decorations and the sounds of sweet holiday music floating out of stores. Add some snow if you’re lucky and the warmth of the presence of your loved ones and it’s the perfect holiday setting. There’s also so much to do in the city and it can get so crowded that you can feel overwhelmed but fortunately for you, my family have been out enjoying many of the fun family offerings so I can give you a list of handpicked things to do with kids in NYC that will make merry memories for years to come. These are fantastic because you wouldn’t have to worry too much about crowds or being outdoors in the cold. Plus, they’re activities things that all members of your family can appreciate. Now, these are not all holiday themed activities but it’s always wonderful to use the season to explore new experiences.
Let’s start in the Bronx, a borough that I don’t explore enough but with lots of wonderful treasures. I’ve been meaning to check out the New York Botanical GardensHoliday Train Show® with my kids for a few years now but finally made it last week.
The train show which runs until January 16, 2017, is celebrating 25 years and is loved by many families in the city. It’s one of the most creative exhibits of the city with all of the very well built models of notable NYC sites. There are 25 G-scale model trains and trolleys and a half mile of track that buzz around the model of the city.
My kids favorite part of the exhibit was the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster that my son called “The red train” as it zipped around the rollercoaster. This was the first year that the rollercoaster was included in the show and I know that this would be the top reason that my kids would want to return every year.
Of course, the kids were also very excited to see Thomas the Tank Engine™ and friends at the show.
There is stroller parking at the exhibit which is really handy for moms as well as a cafe close to The Conservatory where theHoliday Train Show® is held with really yummy hot chocolate. If you’re not a huge fan of the winter, I have to warn you to not go on a windy cold day like we did. The walk from the parking lot to the conservatory was about 15 minutes with my toddler and it’s really chilly. If you don’t mind you would surely enjoy the beauty of the gardens.
Pip’s Island is by far one of my kid’s favorite experiences so far this holiday season, we visited on Thanksgiving weekend and they’re still talking about it. Pip’s Island feels like a combination of their imagination, favorite shows, and books adventure in 3D. Pip’s Island is so good that 10 minutes after it started I told my husband this is the best performance I have ever experience. The audience is part of this interactive experience and kids get to help Pip save his island through teamwork, critical thinking, and cooperation.
The kids went through very well designed different sets with animated charaters which truly gave them the feeling that they were on a real adventure.
You’re not allowed to use your phones during the performance which I think really made it more exciting because without the distraction of snapping photos we were really able to be in the moment. Also, be sure to check out the gift shop after. We got the kids cute pins and magnets as memories from the experience.
Pip’s Island is about an hour long and is perfect for kids between ages 4-11 however The Super Knight is 3 and he really enjoyed it. You can catch the show until January 8th, treat your kids to this incredible experience trust me it’s well worth it. More information here!
Since the kids are off from school this is the perfect time for an educational experience to explore another country with them. The Cuba exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History is the perfect getaway without actually leaving the city. The exhibit which approached the complicated world perception of Cuba from a very open perspective gave us a glimpse into all aspects of the largest Caribbean island from the culture, Cuban revolution, agricultural, tourism industries, art, religion, animals and so much more.
Even though my kids are young they were really curious about how people live in Cuba. My daughter always wants to know what life is like for kids in different countries so we explored the presentation from that perspective. We spoke about a girl her age may have a dad who may be a tobacco farmer and mom is an artist. We spoke about why Cuba is known for its vintage cars and found facts about the cars in Cuba and why the imported bikes at one time.
Since our trip to Jamaica in October, my daughter is very intrigued with the Caribbean so it was great to capture her attention with an island that’s very different from the english speaking caribbean which is what she’s mostly been exposed to so far.
My son was mostly interested with the Cuban animals that were exhibited especially the snakes and butterflies.
The exhibit ends with one of the best gift shops I’ve encountered at an exhibit with lots of really cool Cuban books even children books as well as other cool souvenirs.
ps: The American Museum of Natural History have the coolest Christmas trees shaped like dinosaurs, your kids would love it.
Have you done any of these things with your kids in New York City?
Disclosure: My family was invited/received admission to these activities. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
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