Help LEGO Give Back to Families In Need with the #BuildToGive Campaign!

Thank you LEGO Group for this amazing campaign, and allowing us to help spread the news.  

I am so excited to let you guys know about #BuildtoGive campaign.  From November 5th to December 13th, children of all ages are welcome to come into a LEGO retail store or build from home, a brick ornament.  The LEGO Group invites New York to turn creativity into gifts of goodwill for half a million children around the world.

For every LEGO® ornament built and shared, the LEGO Group will donate one LEGO set through local charity partners, with a goal of giving 500,000 children around the world the chance to play. What an amazing opportunity to have fun and give while doing so.  They are so close to their goal, so please take part before it's too late!

New York Baby Show 2018 Favorites! #NYBSBloggerLounge

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

Being a parent has been the most rewarding, amazing and absolutely one of the most difficult parts of my life.  There's nothing like having children that will let you know how time is flying by.  One of the good and fun part of parenting is the fun stages your children go through, and the fun items that are out there for you and your child/ren.  It's one of the reasons why I love attending the New York Baby Show each year, there's always something new to check out and it is truly ever-changing.  I was excited to see so many new items out on the market available for parents and those expecting as well.  I've done the difficult task of narrowing down my top picks from the show to three, items that I truly think parents will love.

The NYC Playroom Collab with KidsShoes.com

Jett Harlow-T

Jagger - T

The Playroom NYC is the perfect place to bring your little one to play indoors when the weather isn't pleasant out.  Great for fun any day or for parties.  It's well designed clean space made to be a fully functional place for children to play and explore safely.  The Playroom NYC is owned and operated by two moms.  They have partnered up with the website kids shoes.com to create a new fashion-forward line for designer Sydney Jordyn.  We got to check out the line in person and love them!  The collection is exclusively available on kidsshoes.com.  Uniquely designed with the real needs that children and parents need in shoes.  

2018 New York Baby Show Ticket Giveaway + 1/2 Off Code! #NYBSBloggerLounge

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

New and expectant parents, mark your calendars for the @NewYorkBabyShow on May 19th and 20th.  It is the place to be for young families.  It's the largest show of it's kind in the country, not to be missed. You'll learn all about the latest gear and products presented by a huge range of brands, there will be plenty of buying opportunities, hands-on testing and tasting of products, as well as some fun activities.  There's always something new to check out every year, and I can't wait to go back to check everything out myself.  I have been attending for the past few years, it has not only been fun but highly informative.  Your chance to get FREE tickets for your family is below!

Visit the Queens Center Mall for Your Family Photos with Santa! #SantaHQ

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, believe in Santa or not, there's something so special and memorable about getting the annual holiday family photos! I have been making sure to get ones of my children annually.  It wasn't until I looked back one year at the old photos that I truly appreciated it.  Wondering where you should get yours?  Visit Queens Center's Santa HQ for a fun experience that your children will enjoy.  Queens Center has partnered with HGTV once again and is hosting the North Pole's most prominent resident at Santa HQ.  Families are encouraged to partake in an interactive digital experience at Santa's workshop during their photo session.

The Perfect Mom's Night Out! #MtNightOut2

Last week Mom Trends hosted it's second annual Mom's Night Out event, and as expected it was a wonderful evening!  Being surrounded by smart, hardworking women in one great space while enjoying drinks, some delicious bites and learning about some family-friendly brands makes for a fantastic night.  Did I mention the mini foot massages and makeovers?  Yup, Mom Trends always knows how to host a well-rounded event worth our time.  The event was sponsored by Meredith Publications (Parents, Family Fun, Fit Pregnancy), the brands at the event included Jif, New Balance, Swaddle Me, Visit Williamsburg, and Munchkin Inc.  Sometimes as parents, even when we get away from home, all we end up talking about is our children.  So an evening with great family friendly brands makes for a great evening, especially with other like minds.

Legoland Indoor Discovery Center in Westchester

I visited the Legoland Discovery Center Westchester with my 3 children and found myself pleasantly surprised.  It is an indoor family entertainment center located at Ridge Hill Shopping Center in Yonkers, NY in Westchester County.  I was skeptical based on a previous overcrowded experience many years back, but everyone truly enjoyed themselves.  We spent the whole day exploring all that there was to do.  All three of my children ages 9, 4, and 2 found things to get excited about.  Truly a wonderful play space for children, not just for LEGO fans, although they'll probably leave having become a LEGO fan.  There are rides, tons of opportunity to build, Master Builder Academy workshop, LEGO 4D cinema, and so much more!  I think it's best for ages 2 to 11, they're open every day so it's a great place to visit during the week if you homeschool or have younger children not in school yet.  I met some families who have annual passes and come after school, great idea!

Nintendo Promotes a Smart Start to a School Year!

Nintendo hosted a back-to-school event in their 10 Rockefeller Plaza store in New York City to give children a chance to pick up some goodies for school, hang out in store, check out the latest games, have photo ops with Mario and in the end, give them a fun incentive to come back for a special gift after their first month of school as well.  They handed out pencils, character skate-board keychains, stickers, activity sets, bookmarks and more!  As media, we were invited for some special perks that included primary access to photo ops, and a goodie bag.  Love when a brand we already love, promote learning.

Pocono Manor Resort & Spa in Pennsylvania

plenty of sitting areas to mingle and relax

Looking for a quick weekend getaway from New York City?  The Pocono Manor Resort and Spa can provide you with the perfect convenient getaway with your whole family.   There are many family-friendly activities to look forward to, many of which are in the 3,000-acre property.  What attracted us was the fast escape from the city that allowed us to get away with a quick family road trip.  It is less than a 2-hour drive away, which is a kind of trip we are always looking for.  The resort has something to do for everyone; go for a relaxing time or an adventure filled one.  Great for families, friends, and special occasions as well!

Getting Blown Away by The Gazillion Bubble Show

Giggles, laughter, and smiles from the audience of all ages can be seen when I did look away from the mesmerizing stage and performance.  You can also spot the occasional shy and slightly hesitant smirks hiding the childish joy within from adults too.  Who knew bubbles had that effect on people?  The Yang family knew.  They are a family of bubble artists among other talents who hold 17 Guinness World records dating from 1997 to 2012, and you can expect one of the Yang family members on stage at The Gazillion Bubble Show share their joy of bubbles and their talents at New World Stages in New York City.

Endangered The Musical at the Davenport Theatre #NYC #FamilyFriendly

New York City can be one of the best places to grow up, as much as it can be hectic and crowded it can be your child's classroom with so many opportunities to learn.  There are so many places to go, and so so many shows to attend.  I was able to take my kids to Endangered The Musical at the Davenport Theatre last week and thought it was a cute family-friendly production.  A musical enjoyable for ages 2 and up?  Why, yes!  Endangered The Musical is an adorable play to get children into live theater, featuring a fun and energetic cast of 8.  There are lots of dancing and singing going on to keep even the youngest children glued onto the performance.  For older kids and adults, it brings to light an important message about environmental issues in a lighthearted fun way.

A Family Must See - "OVO" Cirque du Soleil Live Production #OVO

Captivating music, breathtaking talent, and an overall memorable experience for all ages.  It wasn't just a show, it felt intimate, and it was incredibly produced in a way that every second of the show all eyes were glued to the stage.  When I allowed myself to look around, everyone in the audience had bright smiles or open jaws in amazement.  I went with my family not knowing what to expect and came out extremely pleased with the show.  I have been to many family-friendly live shows in the past, from live animal shows, the circus, and many others of it's kind, but the OVO - Cirque De Soleil was hands down the best live show we've ever seen.  My husband and my three young children all loved every minute of the show as well.  No other show has ever captured our attention the way this one has and is an absolute must see!  

Our Stay at the Wellnesste Lodge and Nature Sanctuary

I couldn't help but just smile while I was at the Wellnesste Lodge.  It was the green grass, the clear view of the sky, the ponds, the sound of the fast flowing river, the silence, the animals, the cozy E.O. Wilson cabin, and to see my children enjoying it all.  The cabin is named in honor of E.O. Wilson Ph.D. by one of the innkeepers Christophe Marin who was inspired by his books and research about biology and conservation.  There is more of the back-story on how the Wellnesste Lodge came about on their website if you are interested, be sure to check that out.

 

No matter who you are, what you do on this earth -- we all have things in common.  Among those is to live a happy and stress-free life.  But we all get swept into the hectic everyday life that life sometimes brings.  It is loud, crowded, challenging - everyday testing our patience and keeping us busy on our toes.  It's life, and the way it is for most of us.  Everyone is always running from one thing to another.  It isn't until you get away from the everyday routine that you realize that you needed to get-away.  The Wellnesste Lodge has provided my family with the charge we all needed.  Even my children needed the break more than I had realized.  I highly recommend a getaway to Upstate New York and for you to stay at the Wellnesste Lodge.  It is a truly unique place where even if you don't plan out a schedule, you will still enjoy your time there.  It's peaceful...

New York Baby Show Top Picks 2017! #MTBloggerLounge

As a new or expectant parent the New York Baby Show is an event not be missed, so if you didn't attend this year, be sure to keep posted for next year's show.  All things from the small necessities to the extravagant baby gear can be found at the show.  This year they changed the location a bit, and it was for the better.  A much bigger space and layout allowed for guests to enjoy the two days even better than before.  I always find it hard to choose my top picks each year, but I did see some that stuck out at me as I walked through so I based my picks on those.  My top picks for this year's show is the Baby Mel diaper bags, Little Beam nursing pillows, and the EvenFlo Pivot Travel System.

When you think of your typical baby shower registry items or the bare necessities when you are preparing for your baby there a few items that always come up.  Always on that list are the baby car-seat and stroller, the diaper bag, and usually there's a nursing pillow.

"Protect Like a Mother" Exhibit by Lysol in Brooklyn Bridge Plaza (May 20th & May 21st)

 

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Enjoy a beautiful day at the Brooklyn Bridge Park with your family and walk over to see the free "Protect Like a Mother" exhibit by Lysol.  Lysol is celebrating the protective instincts of mothers.  The exhibit demonstrate the incredible ways that moms protect their young, from harms way to harmful germs.  The exhibit shows different animals and share their mother's instincts and how they protect their young, including that of the human mom.

TTPM Spring Showcase 2017 #toys #ttpm

The TTPM Spring Showcase 2017 was filled with incredible energy, surrounded with great people, and of course the best of the best toys of the season!  My kids and I were thrilled to get our hands on playing with so many new toys and some old favorites as well.  I was excited to bring my children along on Take Your Daughters & Sons to Work Day!  Everyone had a great time, and I'm excited to let you know we will be featuring many of the amazing finds from the event in the coming weeks and months!

Celebrate Spring with Crafts and Sweet Halos #MTHalosFun

Can you believe it's already March, and Spring is a little over a week away?  What better way to get in the mood for the season other than some sweet crafts?  Mom Trends and Wonderful Halos hosted a family Spring crafts event last weekend at The Children's Museum of Art, and we had such a sweet time.  Yes, sweet like the Halos mandarins.  My son and my husband surprised me by getting really crafty in their space.  Who knew you could create the cutest bunnies, chicks, and so much more with Halos mandarins.  We love Halos, it disappears by the bags in our home as they are the perfect anytime anywhere healthy snack that pleases kids and parents alike.

A Weekend Escape at the Kenshire Campground

Getaways have become a must for our family.  I didn't travel much as a child, parents were too busy with work, and we were always busy with school.  I have a handful of memories doing a short getaway or two.  It just makes me that much more grateful for being able to give my children opportunities to learn through travel, and to simply experience it all.  I'm more than happy to share these experiences and life long memories with them.  Last year before the weather got too cold, we did a road trip from New York City to Pennsylvania, where we stayed in a small deluxe cabin at the Kenshire Campground for a few nights.  As expected it was a memorable trip.  Something about changing the daily scenery and getting out and away from the norm is incredibly refreshing.  The memories created during these trips are truly the most valuable ones.  Kenshire Campground is a beautiful campground located on two ancient ox-bows of Pine Creek.

Mom Trends Holiday Soiree Event 2016 in NYC #MTHoliday

Have you started shopping for holiday gifting yet, or are you all done shopping?  I had a fantastic time getting into the holiday mood before Thanksgiving even started, and it was all thanks to a beautiful evening with Mom Trends.  They held their annual Mom Trends Holiday Soiree, and as a first time attendee of the #MTHoliday, I wasn't disappointed.  It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, an evening with awesome brands, great company, opportunity to shop, as well as donate.

Meet Santa & Experience the Magic at the HGTV's #SantaHQ at the Queens Center Mall #LoveHGTV

*We were invited to experience #SantaHQ, and received a gift bag as well as a complimentary photo package to truly get an experience.  All opinions are a 100% my own.  No other compensation was provided. 

Do you get pictures of your family or your kids with Santa every year?  I admit I ran out of time last year - time flew by and it was too late. Which is why I'm saying you can be too late, but never too early.  Head on over to #SantaHQ at the Queens Center Mall to experience the magic of HGTV's Santa HQ starting today, November 11, 2016.  Queens Center Mall in partnership with HGTV - one of America's leading home and lifestyle brands - invite you to a modern, extraordinary experiential visit with Santa - the new Santa HQ.  We got to experience it right before it opened up to the public and had an incredible time.