25 Ultimate Gifts for Kids

As winter approaches, many schools are reverting back to remote learning.  In fact, many schools around us are going remote right after Thanksgiving.  This year, my guide for kids is made up of gifts they can use in the home.  This is a perfect time to create family memories, build their creativity, or learn a new skill. Here are…

25 Ultimate Gifts for Kids

DIY BATH BOMBS

Essential Oil Bath Bomb DIY Kit:  This kit includes everything they need to make 15 luxurious, all-natural bath bombs. The pre-measured ingredients, and a no mess clean-up make this the perfect gift for everyone.  By following their step-by-step instructions, they can make their own bath bombs from scratch in the comfort of their own home.

GRAVITY MAZE

ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game:  This kit contains 60 challenges from beginner to expert, a game grid, 9 towers, 1 target piece, and 3 marbles.  They can play their way through the challenges, build spatial reasoning, and planning skills. It is partly an engineering and building toy that provides a great stealth learning experience for young players

BUG CATCHING KIT

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Smolak Farm

Smolak Farm

North Andover, MA

Smolak Farms is a working farm that combines agriculture, education, and entertainment in a unique way!

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Pineland Farm

Another beautiful farm I visited was Pineland Farm, in New Gloucester, Maine.  I visited this farm when I was staying in Freeport for the night.

Pineland Farm

New Gloucester, Maine

Pineland Farm is a 5,000-acre working farm that welcomes visitors to enjoy its beautiful rural landscape.

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Wolfe Neck Center (Fall Visit)

Wolfe Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment

Wolfe Neck is a nonprofit farm with 626 oceanfront acres and 4 miles of Casco Bay shoreline that is open to the public every day. A few years back I was given a tour of the farm.  Take a peek at my post about it.

This fall, I decided to bring my bike to the farm and spend a relaxing morning riding along its gorgeous views of the coast, visiting the animals, and breathing in that coastal air!

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Snug Harbor Farm

In autumn, I love stopping in to different farms to enjoy the gifts of living in New England.  Apple picking, pumpkins, hay rides, corn mazes, farm stand… I can’t get enough! Lately I’ve been spending one day a week visiting a farm nearby.  It’s the perfect way to get outside for some fresh air, walk around in nature, and ok, ok…it doesn’t hurt that lots of farms have cider donuts.

This week I’ll be showcasing some of my favorite farms I’ve been to lately.  Enjoy!

Snug Harbor Farm

Kennebunkport, Maine

Snug Harbor Farm features five greenhouses, nurseries,

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Our Top 10 Favorite Fall Activities in New England

  There’s no place as cozy as autumn in New England.  For the next few months it’s all about crisp leaves, comfy sweaters, dark nail polish, lattes, and pulling out my UGGs.  (Yes…I’m aware of how ugly they are, but is there anything more comfortable?) It’s the perfect time to slow down, unwind from out fast-paced summer, and enjoy the simple things. 

Here are our top 10 activities for fall:

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Outdoor Toys for Kids

It is so important for kids to get outside…especially when we are stranded at home during this pandemic.  It’s so easy to let kids play on electronics, but it is so bad for them and it sucks up all their time if you let it.  I spent my childhood making memories outside and I want my kids to experience the same.  The key is to help them find things to do outside that they love.

Here are 25 ideas of outdoor toys for kids:

Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Sand & Water Table

Intex Unicorn Inflatable Ride-On Pool Float

Golf Girl Junior Golf Club Set with Stand Bag

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Renting a Lake House During COVID-19


10 Things to Look for When Renting a Lake House

 After so many months of self-isolation, many people are hoping to salvage some sort of normalcy and go on a summer vacation with their family. Many people are not crazy about the idea of going to a hotel and being surrounded by other people.  So what could be the solution? A lake house! Are people renting lake houses? Absolutely! We own a rental property on a lake and we were worried that everyone would cancel their reservations for this summer.  Not only has no one canceled, but we even have 6 families on a wait list. It’s a great alternative to a hotel because you have your own space and don’t have to worry about being in contact with people other than your family. If you are looking to rent a lake house, there are some things you need to consider. I wrote this article a few summers ago and have updated it with specific tips about COVID-19. 

  LOCATION

 Location can make or break a trip.  There are lots of things to consider.  Is the house on a quiet bay or on a channel where boats will constantly be going by? Is it lakefront, lake view, or away from the water but with lake access? It’s also good to know a little about the lake itself.  Is the house located near a sandbar that’s know for it’s crowds? You may want to ask how close the neighbors are. 

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20 Tips for Hiking with Kids During COVID-19

 

20 Tips for Hiking with Kids mytravelingkids.com

It has been a long, exhausting few months all across the country and many of us are struggling with how to adapt to this “new normal.”  There are many activities that are off the list for now, but there are still plenty of activities to do as a family.  Here is an article I wrote last summer… but have added some tips that are appropriate for COVID-19 times.  So grab your hiking boots and head out for a hike! 

Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to go on a hike.  To avoid a hike filled with whining, it helps to plan a bit. Check out these 20 Tips for Hiking with Kids:

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Finding the Fun in Winter

Finding the Fun in Winter

 

Before I had kids, winter meant long months of counting down the days until spring.  Then these two little winter-loving girls were born.   All of the sudden winter turned into months of being…dare I say it…outside!  Yeah…outside…in cold, wet snow for hours at a time.  All of these new items appeared in my house like hand warmers and sleds.  Snow pants somehow crept their way into my wardrobe.  So that’s when I decided to give in and try to find out what the heck people like about winter.  After all, I live in New England so I may as well join these snow-lovers! No one was as shocked as myself to discover I actually have fun outside.  My husband says the key to enjoying winter is to make sure you’re warm, and he’s right. (Don’t tell him that! Lol) With the right clothes and toys, I found so many things I loved to do out there.   Here are some of my favorites:

 

SNOW SHOEING

Talk about a no-skill-needed activity!  If you can walk, then you can snow shoe…it’s that easy! After a fresh snowfall there’s nothing more peaceful than walking through the woods or along the side of a frozen lake.  Snow shoes are pretty inexpensive and they will last you a long time.  They make great snowshoes for kids as well. It’s also good to have a nice warm hat for both adults and kids!

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