Archives for October 2012

Visiting Europe: An Education The Whole Family

If you’re looking for a family holiday that’s both fun and educational, Europe should be
number one on your list. The continent is bursting with culture, history, and tourist attractions
to suit all interests. With capital cities such as London, Paris, and Rome all within a day’s
travel, you can learn about the pope, the Bastille, and the Beatles all in one trip.

The History
Whatever period in history your child is studying, they can do first hand research in Europe.
If they want to know about the world wars, visits to Belgium or Berlin are recommended, or
if they’re interested in the Vikings or Tudors the English or Swedish countryside beckons.
There are fantastic museums at most of the important historical locations, such as the Anne
Frank Museum in Amsterdam or the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

The Art
A European holiday is a great way to learn about art, as many of the best galleries in the
world are located in European cities. These include the Louvre in Paris, where the Mona Lisa
is kept, and the Tate Modern in London where you can see work by many of the best modern
artists including Monet and Anish Kapoor. But not all the best art works in Europe are in
museums – you can also see great works [Read more…]

Radio Ranger RC Fishing Boat Giveaway

Radio Ranger RC Fishing Boat Giveaway

This post brought to you by Blog With Mom- I personally have never used this product, the opinions are those of the reviewer. Please continue reading for more information as well as how to win the prize.

RcFishingWorld.com is offering an awesome remote control boat worth $79.95 to one lucky reader and it could be you. Do not pass up on the chance to win this RadioRanger Remote Control Boat Giveaway. Bobbie Anne from BlogWithMom.com owns one of these fast remote control boats, listen to what she has to say about it.

“Taking the Radio Ranger RC Boat to the lake is a great family activity. My kids and I took our boat out this past weekend and had a blast. It runs so fast across the lake that it leaves waves behind it. This remote control boat can also be connected to your fishing line and used to catch a fish. Can you imagine catching a fish and then bringing it in to shore with a remote control boat? This RC Radio Ranger is also great for the fisherman who want to get their bait to the perfect spot, but cannot get [Read more…]

Big Apple Circus

Big Apple Circus has it’s ALL NEW SHOW coming to the Lincoln Center 10/20 – 1/13 Get your tickets today! http://bigapplecircus.org/ In honor of the momentous 35th season, the Big Apple Circus is proud to present a brand new show: LEGENDARIUM! Enter the intimate Big Top circus of years gone by, where the World’s Greatest Circus Artists perform spectacular feats and no one sits more than 50 feet from the ring! See the hijinks of hilarious clowns, [Read more…]

HABA Big Magic Leaf Ball Review

HABA is a very environmentally-friendly company. Their products can be found nationwide at over 1,000 U.S. specialty retail stores and in catalogs, as well as on the internet. Many of their products have been recognized with German and American awards, including Parents’ Choice, National Parenting Center, Creative Child, and Dr. Toy. HABA received Best Toys of the Year recognition fron the TODAY Show Toy Test and has been featured in national magazines such as American Baby, Baby Talk, Fit Pregnancy, Parenting, Parents and Working Mother.

With all of this in mind, I was VERY excited to try out their Magic Ball Leaf, Big (Ages 6+ Months). It is fron their 2012 line of Pure Nature Organic toys. There are a total of eight toys in this line. All of the “Pure Nature” products are tested in a CPSC accredited laboratory, which specifically controls harmful substances. The Magic Ball Leaf, is a very pretty ball with pastel colors, and different designs, as well as some fun “surprises” in each leaf. This is a great sensory toy. The ball itself is made from high quality organic cotton, and filled with polyester for easy washing & healthy drying.

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t be more impressed with HABA, as well as this ball! As you can see in my picture, my daughter absolutely adores the ball. It is one of her favorite toy to play with, as well as to hit around on the floor and crawl to it and over it! I like how it has a rattle, a squeaker, [Read more…]

Tropical Coconut Bars

My kids love it when I make granola bars. They never come out the same so I’m always coming up with new variations and this one was a hit! Such a hit that they never even completely cool off . You can sub out the pineapple for other dried fruit, you can leave out the almonds, as well as the coconut but I hope you all try this version, my kids really enjoyed them! Perfect for after school or even breakfast for a busy on the go morning.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups uncooked old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup Butter, softened
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup dried pineapple (you can sub in other fruits)
1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional
1/4 cup coconut

Directions
Prepare your pan. 8×8 baking pan and line with [Read more…]

5 Ways To Vacation on the Cheap

Being broke (or just thrifty) shouldn’t keep you from heading out on a well-deserved vacation. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, here are 5 ways to help you save cash on your next holiday.

Sleep Cheap

For most travelers, the bulk of their vacation budget goes towards their accommodation. Find a cheap (or better yet, free) place to crash for the night, and you’ll save a ton of cash. Before you set out on your next holiday, send a shout-out to your social media contacts letting them know you’re looking for a low-cost place to lay your head – you just might get lucky and score an invite to stay in a spare room or an unused cottage.

If you’re ok with sleeping on a stranger’s couch, check out CouchSurfing. It’s a thriving online community where travelers and hospitable people connect, matching up couchsurfers with hosts who are willing to put up a traveler for the night (or two) in a spare room, on an air mattress, or on the couch. Best of all, it’s free – the idea is to promote goodwill, friendships and cultural exchange through the simple act of letting a stranger crash on your couch for the night. And yes, there’s an app for that.

Eat Cheap

Next to the cost of hotels, dining out while on vacation can literally take a bite out of your travel budget. Skip the fancy restaurants and check out some authentic local food – independent diners and food trucks are usually much cheaper than chain restaurants, and the food tastes a whole lot better. Remember to check for online coupons to score discounts and 2 for 1 deals on everything from coffee to dinner theatre tickets.

Drive Someone Else’s Car

No, we’re not suggesting you ‘borrow’ your mom’s minivan or hot wire your neighbors’ car to use on your next road trip – there’s legit companies that actually connect willing long-distance [Read more…]

We are in the 100,000 Mile Club

Me and my baby! Yes, Little Man- but right now I am talking about my 2003 Mazda Protege 3, which has taken me all over the country (and out of it), on more trips then I can count, driven me to to my wedding, to the hospital to have my son, on his car ride home- and anywhere else [Read more…]

Barcelona: a Rich Cultural Discovery

With neighborhoods like Ribera and Barrio Gotico, Barcelona is a destination of choice
for all those who want to have a sample of the whole country be means of a city break.
Simply by walking down the steep streets of Catalonia’s capital city, you can discover the
Spanish culture’s authenticity.

Palau de la Musica Catalana

An iconic landmark for the city’s modernity of the city, the Palace of Catalan Music is
a visit that imposes itself. The distinguished building has a magnificent façade adorned
by floral marquees and colorful mosaics. The visit goes through a splendid auditorium
decorated with a canopy and a painted ceiling. Another great thing about the Music
Palace is its great bar where you can taste the Spanish tapas accompanied by a good local
wine throughout the day.

Picasso Museum

This set of five medieval buildings is one of the most remarkable landmarks of the Gothic
Quarter. Included in any artistic tour of Barcelona, Picasso Museum is an interesting
way to discover some of the most important treasures of the Spanish culture. With a
permanent collection dedicated to Pablo Ruiz Picasso’s first sketches and a total amount
of over 3500 paintings, Picasso Museum plunges its visitors into the [Read more…]