Click here to view our itinerary for 5 amazing days in London!
Looking for a hotel? Take a peek at our review. Here’s where we stayed:
Postcard Friday…London
Studio Allston, Boston
With so many hotels to choose from in Boston, it’s often hard to decide where to stay. The other night we had the pleasure of staying at Studio Allston and it was the most colorful hotel we’ve ever stayed at. The artistic vibe is played out throughout the hotel and your eyes are drawn from one spot to the next. It was the perfect location to escape the noise of the city, is only 15 minutes from downtown Boston, and is a short walk to Harvard. It was so easy to drive here…and that’s coming from someone who usually would rather have a root canal than drive in a city!
15 Romantic New England Hotels
Everyone must be hoping for a romantic escape for Valentine’s Day because I keep getting emails asking for suggestions for ideas for a last-minute getaway. Since I often go to my friends when I need a trip idea, I decided to throw it out to them to see where they would suggest and here’s what they said:
The Liberty, Boston
Wentworth Inn, Jackson, NH
New London Inn, New London, NH
Touristy NYC Restaurants You Should Go To
There are more restaurants in NYC than one could ever dream of and if you are craving it then there is a restaurant for you. The hardest part is choosing the right one. The restaurants listed here could easily be considered tourist traps, but that is exactly what we were…a mom with two little girls looking for a restaurant that is both fun and delicious. Had joined my husband on a work trip and the girls were ages 3 & 5. These restaurants are more than just a meal, they are an experience. They were also places we went during the day for breakfast and lunch. Since my husband would be working all day, for dinner we would meet up with him and go to places that did not involve fairy wings or ice cream as a main dish.
ALICE’S TEA CUP
If you have young kids that love both fairies and tea parties, this is a MUST-DO when in NYC. When your children walk into the restaurant, they are given a pair of fairy wings and are sprinkled with fairy dust. Seriously…what kid wouldn’t love that? The breakfast menu consists of pancakes, eggs, scones, omelets, and crepes. We chose to do an early afternoon tea. Although there is a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches, we opted for the Mad Hatter, which is served on a three-tiered stand and included scones, tea sandwiches, cakes, tarts, and cookies. For a beverage I had a lovely pot of Indian chai tea and the girls had apple juice in their pots. We had such a nice lunch and had a ton of food left over.
Tips:
There are 3 locations: 102 West 73rd Street at Columbus Ave, 156 East 64th Street, and 220 East 81st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
10 Ways to Reacclimate Your Family After Vacation
10 Ways to Reacclimate Your Family After Vacation
Your feet are sifting the grains of sand between your toes as you sip on your frozen cocktail while feeling the ocean breeze on your sun kissed cheeks. Then suddenly…BAAAAMMMM…back to reality…laundry…BAM… homework…BAM…afterschool sports…BAM…late nights at the office…BAM…the list goes on and on. It’s very easy to get sad and overwhelmed after a trip as you slip back into your everyday routine. So how can you make this emersion a little easier for your crew?
Here are 10 ways to reacclimate your family after vacation.
1. GET RIGHT BACK INTO ROUTINE: Since you may still be in laid-back mode (or running on island time) it’s all about preparation. Have your kids pack their backpacks the night before school, lay out their clothes, and even set out their coats and shoes.
2. PREP SOME DINNER: The last thing you want to think about when you return is what you’re having for dinner. Have something on hand that can quickly be reheated like a frozen pizza, canned soup, pasta, or a frozen meal.
Beaches Ocho Rios
When we decided to go away for Christmas, something we’ve been talking about for years, we had some pretty big requirements. We wanted a resort that was family-friendly, all-inclusive, had activities we could do as a family, had plenty of restaurant choices, and was a place where we could relax and play together. Beaches Ocho Rios fit all of these and we soon began counting down the days until our Christmas vacation!
Click here to read all about our Christmas in Jamaica at Beaches Ocho Rio
10 Things NOT to Do When Boarding a Plane
When we were boarding the plane a few weeks ago, my daughters and I were laughing at all the ridiculous things people do when boarding a plane. The process could go so smoothly if people would just pay attention to common sense rules. Most of the time people don’t even realize that what they’re doing is holding up the rest of the passengers, but others are just plain selfish. So…here are 10 things we thought people should NOT do when they’re boarding a plane:
1. ARMS AND LEGS: If you have an aisle seat you will have plenty of time to stretch out during the flight. I will not feel bad for you if you get your elbow banged while I’m walking if your elbow is halfway across the aisle. Keep them in your seat until everyone is on board!
2. OVERHEAD BINS: Crazy concept… but we are actually ALL sharing the overhead bins, so please set your bag sideways and allow room for others to do the same. Don’t be that guy that puts it lengthwise right in the middle of the bin!
3. STANDING IN AISLE: We all have the same task…put our bags up and sit down. Please do not stand in the aisle taking out your magazines while we all wait for you.
The Eliot Hotel
History, architecture, fine dining, and culture makes Boston the perfect destination for families. If you are looking for elegant New England charm in your accommodations, then The Eliot Hotel is for you. The Eliot Hotel is a historic boutique hotel set in a gorgeous Neo-Georgian corner building in the charming section of Boston’s back bay neighborhood. Read all about our amazing stay at this fabulous hotel as well as our dinner at Uni, the #1 Restaurant in Boston, according to Boston Magazine!
10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling
10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling
Life doesn’t always happen the way you want it to and sometimes even when you’re in paradise, you can get sick. I wish you could just snap your fingers and feel better, but it’s not that easy. However, there are some things you can do to help your recovery or at least make yourself more comfortable. Here are 10 things you can do when you’re sick while traveling:
REST: I know you’ve spent a long time planning this trip and have lots of adventures you want to do, but if you don’t want to be sick for your entire trip, you need to get some rest. Grab some pillows and blankets and camp out on the couch in your hotel room. Tell your family to have a fun day without you and spend your day recovering.
SLEEP: I’m sure you’re dying to get out and explore the town, but you need to get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early and sleep late. Lack of sleep will weaken your immune system so this is the perfect time to take naps. I always pack Nyquil in my suitcase.
HOT SHOWERS: A stuffy head, aching sinuses, and a nagging cough may have you feeling miserable, but a hot steamy shower will loosen the congestion and make you breathe a little easier. You could also run hot water in the bathroom sink, hold your head over it and drape a towel over yourself to get some reliefs. Be careful not to burn yourself.
10 Tips for Taking Kids to their First Concert
10 Tips for Taking Kids to their First Concert
One question you’ll be asked throughout your entire life is, “What was your first concert?” U2…Saratoga Springs! I knew I had a huge responsibility because if I didn’t choose wisely their response could be Kid Bop for the rest of their life. We waited until the perfect concert and this year it happened…Ed Sheeran came to Gillette Stadium. When we were in Ireland my girls begged us to go to Grafton Street, they squealed when they saw signs to Galway, and they want our next vacation to be Barcelona. (All based on Ed Sheeran songs!) Yep…they LOVE him, so we knew this would be the perfect first concert and they ended up having a blast!
Here are 10 tips for taking your kids to their first concert:
APPROPRIATE: Radio stations censor their music, so you may want to do some investigating to see if the lyrics will be appropriate for kids. Watch some YouTube videos about their concerts to see what vibe to expect.