Posts ⋆ Page 15 of 27 ⋆ The Mint Chip Mama: A fun blog for Long Island / NY area families

The Mint Chip Mama’s Family Hikes on Long Island (for All Skill Levels)

Family hikes on Long Island (for all skill levels) have saved us since the world closed down due to Covid-19. These family hikes on Long Island – and spending time outside in nature – have been spectacular for us. Not only do we get some exercise, but we get to see some beautiful scenery far away from other humans.

As our family hikes on Long Island evolved, we started to hunt for things like the biggest tree, the most random artifact, or something that does not belong. If you saw a deer, you won immediately.

When I say family hikes on Long Island for all skill levels, I probably mean nature walks. But you can decide. We are a family of five – with kids ages four, six and ten. This means none of the trails were very strenuous or with dramatic terrain.

While we enjoyed nature walks pre-Covid we never went regularly. Now we are addicts (after a summer hiatus because we do not like heat or bugs). We are so lucky to live in a place with so many trails and parks and so much natural beauty. I have enjoyed being a resource for others who want to spend some quality time outside. I hope with this guide of family hikes on Long Island, I can reach even more people.

Once you see the addiction is real, you may want to consider getting a small tripod. Selfies only go so far, and with a tripod you can hook it around anything and use your timer.

*Edit* September 30, 2021 – be sure to check out my follow up post – More Family Hikes on Long Island too!

Easy Family Hikes with Water Views

Our most favorite attraction – whether it be a lake, river, or ocean. My personal preference is to walk in a loop around a lake, but you cannot beat a beachside stroll.

Jones Beach – Field 10

Field 10 is a beautiful place to take in the sunset on one of the boardwalks. During the winter, hiking down the beach and searching for seals is one of our favorite activities.

Massapequa Preserve

This is a great big place to walk. There are swans and lots of pretty stuff to look at for hours. We went in the winter and one of the pockets of sunken trees was covered in ice. It looked like a scene right out of Frozen 2.

Family Hikes on Long Island - The Mint Chip Mama

Sagamore Hill

The summer home of the 26^th President of the United States – Teddy Roosevelt. A beautiful, easy loop trail that has a pretty bridge to cross and ends at a beautiful beach. Tours and programs are available inside the house and on the property as well, including a Jr. Ranger scavenger hunt that my son loved.

Terrell River County Nature Preserve

Wow! This place was amazing. It hit all of the exciting hike points – a slight elevation, logs bridges over streams, deer, swings on random tree limbs, and tons of places to stop and rest. The highlight was at the end – a GORGEOUS beach with a sandbar. You can walk across it and I guarantee you will feel like you’re on vacation. This may be my favorite hike on this list. Also, it is one where we got some of the best pictures.

Kings Park Bluff

This was one of the prettiest and most challenging hikes. By challenging, I mean there were narrow paths and some altitude. Funny enough, we went up the bluff to the trail, while our friends returned and went along the beach. Two completely different experiences observing this beautiful stretch of land. Definitely a place I would like to return to get a different perspective.

Short Beach Town Park

One of the most interesting combinations – cacti as you walked up to sand dunes sloping down to a beautiful beach. I felt like I was out West when we arrived. It was amazing, until my kids started screaming as they barreled down the sand cliffs – with screams of joy.

West Neck Beach

While this was not necessarily a hike, we went here on my birthday and it was really pretty. There were plenty of places to walk around and rocks to climb on at the water’s edge. Worth mentioning if you want to visit a pretty place, but not get too involved on a hike. Plus, this shirt is amazing so I kind of had to share this picture. Also, I’m a sucker for a picture where a kid has no front teeth.

Twin Lakes Prese r ve

This place was fantastic. Plus, it finally answered the question “what is that?” when we drive down to Jones Beach and see a pretty lake with lily pads . Know what I mean? Off the Wantagh Expressway. Lots of little spots to stop and fish or sit down and take a break.

Super Cool Long Island Graffiti Hikes

Muttontown Preserve

The ruined remains of a mansion once owned – but never occupied – by King Zod of Albania, is one of Long Island’s more beautiful places to search for nature and graffiti. While we got completely lost and never found the remains, it was a fun day. Plus, now a good excuse to go back and look again. The closest we got was the graffiti wall of the garden. I think we will return here once our Fall hikes resume. I want to find those darn ruins. *11/7/20 update. We went back & found them. Ahhh I feel so much better!*

Lakeland County Park

Another one of my favorites. A completely unique hike – all on intertwining boardwalks – that end at a stunning lake (with giant turtles in it!). Around the lake were a few paths in different directions including one under a train trellis with some awesome graffiti. *10/23/20 update: sadly, the graffiti above has been painted over, but this is still my favorite “starter hike” park to send people.

Welwyn Preserve County Park

The mother ship of graffiti hikes on Long Island. Not only an amazing place to see nature and/or water (which we did not see because the trail was too muddy), but it offers all kinds of interesting objects to enjoy. Most are covered in graffiti. If you are looking for a decent hike – again meaning like beginner 2 – and lots of great photo opportunities, this is the place for you. The graffiti was awesome.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

Nassau County Museum of Art

A beautiful property where you will find trails as well as big open fields with sculptures and climbable trees. If you like art, they have very cool exhibits as well inside the museum and great family programs.

Prosser Pines Nature Preserve

This was the first hike we took after the world closed in March. I do not know if it was because we were stir crazy or the sheer beauty of the 200+ year old 100+ feet pine trees, but I fell in love. A very short, easy loop trail with hidden teepees, fallen logs, and absolute perfection.

Family Hikes on Long Island - The Mint Chip Mama - Greenbelt Trail

Long Island Greenbelt Trail

A huge, paved trail (with more rustic unpaved options) spanning from the north shore of Long Island all the way south to Jones Beach (via the Massapequa Preserve). Many stretches have parking lots so you can choose your own adventure for distance and terrain. Added bonus: I found tie dye berries!

Family Scavenger Hunt for Extra Credit Stuff

St. John’s Pond Preserve

One of my favorite spots on Long Island. Also where we’ve enjoyed a “First Day Hike” for the last few years. Here they have a tree claiming to be the oldest on Long Island. They also have an old cemetery tucked in with some famous names – like Jones (of the beach fame).

Paul T Given Park

While this hike was not so great, it had a few elements worth including on this list. There was some graffiti, including a tree that said “hell” with an arrow (that cracked me up). There was an abandoned, dilapidated, disintegrating car (which was huge with my boys). It is also has a small boat launch for the Nissequogue River. In fact, the river looked so great, it inspired us to buy an inflatable boat. The moment it arrived we returned. It was beautiful, we saw deer, but as new boaters we did not really understand about the tide. Fun fact for clueless boaters like us – it is a lot easier to go down this river than to come back. So make sure you check the tide charts first on a site like the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

Blydenburgh County Park

This huge park offers trails near and far from the water and all kinds of huge trees. You could probably spend a week here just walking around aimlessly. It also offers a small boat launch close to one of the parking lots. This was a much better place to take our boat. Unlike the tide situation above, this was more of a big, beautiful bathtub. Otherwise known as: exactly our speed.

Norman J Levy Park & Preserve

We ended up here after a failed attempt to go to the beach (it was at capacity). While sprawling, beautiful looking hiking trails were in front of us, our beach attire kept us from exploring. What we did see were animals including goats (we love goats) and an osprey nest. We look forward to returning this fall for a proper hike.

Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve

While sadly there are no longer cranberries here, you will find an easy lake loop to walk around with a very pretty bridge.

Southards Pond Park

This beautiful park has a huge lake and an easy, wide trail to follow. You will find some graffiti here and a big tunnel over pass where your kids can yell “echo”.

Family Hikes on Long Island: To Be Continued…

I hope this list has been helpful and that you save it for future use. Be sure to check out my 2nd post as well – More Family Hikes on Long Island too! The most important thing is – just GO! Get outside, walk around, enjoy the fresh air, and take some great family pictures. Don’t forget to bring water and 4,000 granola bars because your kids will be hungry every five minutes. Until we can go on a proper vacation, nature is all we have to keep us sane!

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Designing an Easy & Cool Tween Room for Middle School!

Tweens want cool rooms. Often it is so they can sit and brood, but mostly it is just because who doesn’t want a cool tween room!? When it was time to evolve our bedroom situation, getting our cool tween ready for middle school, there was no question what the décor would be – Harry Potter all the way!

My daughter has been a good sport the last four years. When we had her baby brother, she and my middle son began sharing a room. They had the coolest bunk beds in town and a pretty sweet set up that was the perfect brother/sister hang out. But then she began to feel she needed her own space. We agreed that when elementary school ended, we would switch her out of their room and into her four-year-old brother’s room. The excitement of my boys to create a “bro-cave” was reason enough! This was the perfect summer project with plenty of time to get ready to go back to school.

Where Do You Begin?

As a girl going into 5^th grade, she was ready for a sophisticated room. She loves turquoise and blue, so we started with that color scheme. Luckily, the room was already painted a shade of blue that she loved! We took some furniture measurements and when the day came – July 31^st (Harry Potter’s birthday, of course) – we were ready to go!

Cool Tween Room Wall Art

The most exciting part – and the entire focus of the room – is this spectacular removable wall mural from Recall Art that I found on Etsy. Igor – the owner – was amazing to work with and helped me pick out the perfect size to fit the wall. It honestly is the coolest thing I have ever seen and what I stare at when I sit in her room. I don’t think I could have found anything cooler. It was easy enough to put up and just makes the room amazing. It’s simply the coolest accent wall I have ever seen.

Cool Tween Room Seating Options

Next, we thought about the ideal lounge chair for a cool tween room. We quickly decided it had to be a bean bag chair! We wanted a really good one and in the perfect shade of blue. Our search led us to Big Joe’s Kid’s Fuf in cobalt. The foam in this chair is so comfortable and just mushes around you. It’s a given that at any moment you can find her curled up with a book sitting on her Fuf. It is so perfect. Plus, now that she will be doing remote learning for school, it is a great flexible seating option!

A Great Place to Do Homework

Speaking of flexible seating options, what would a cool tween room be without a proper desk to do homework? We were lucky to get this beautiful drop-down secretary – a family heirloom – for her room. It has a huge space where we can put all kinds of fun desk organizers. But even better, at the end of the day we just pop the drop lid up so we cannot see the mess!

Along with a good desk, a cool tween room needs a good desk seat. But not just any old seat. What she doesn’t know yet is we got her a Kore Pre-Teen Wobble Stool (in dark blue). This is going to be her first-day-of-school present. She first met this stool in her 4^th grade classroom, and it was love at first site. This flexible seating option was her absolute favorite and she is going to flip out when she sees it, I cannot wait! Again, with her doing remote learning, this will be the perfect addition to her room. The fact that she wanted it makes it even better!

Cool Tween Room Storage

Storage was the next area for us to tackle. Cool tween rooms have a lot of clothes, and a lot of stuff. We were lucky to have more family heirloom furniture (again in blue!) that fit perfectly. Because the room is on the smaller side, and she has very little clothing that hangs, we decided to put the dresser in the closet to save some real estate. We then added in a three by three cube organizer that brought everything together. This was the perfect option to neatly store her books, but also big enough that she could store her jewelry boxes and put in some fun Harry Potter décor.

The Perfect Bed

Bedding was the next area we tackled. When we went to family camp last summer I bought her a white duvet cover to batik. The turquoise color came out great and it worked with the room so well. We also found the most perfect denim colored sheets. All of this on top of her trundle bed, with a few accent pillows and she was good to go!

Cool Tween Room Decor

Last, we needed to spiff up this cool tween room with some decorations. She is an avid artist, so this was not hard. We did a girl scout event at Casa de Spin – a spin art studio by our home – earlier in the year. With her new room in mind, she made a painting in multiple shades of blue. The painting matched perfectly and really brought everything together. On the other walls she was excited to hang up paintings I did that made her happy (cool tweens still love their Mommy!). The last step was putting together her new lava lamp, which turned out to be the perfect night light.

It is All About the Blues…

She is so happy with how her room turned out. It is amazing how all the colors and furniture came together to make a really beautiful room. It is the perfect place for her to relax, do art, do her schoolwork, chat with her friends, and of course – the most important thing for a cool tween – make TikTok videos.

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Vision Boards – A Great Camp Mom Project!

Like many families right now, we are still hunkering down at home following the rules to avoid contracting Covid-19. Every day I am looking for new activities to keep my three kids – ages 4, 6 and 10 busy and engaged. I read about making Vision Boards and thought my kids and I (because let’s face it – it’s a hell of a lot more fun if it’s actually fun) would enjoy making them. Spoiler – I was right.

What is a Vision Board?

I wasn’t really sure what a vision board was, so like any good person living in 2020, I started googling around. I found out there is a local store called Vision Works NY – whose main mission is to teach people how to make vision boards! I immediately reached out to the owners for some advice.

Supplies Matter! What supplies do I need to make a Vision Board?

Unlike many people who have jumped into the 21st century, I still get several paper magazine subscriptions. Lucky for me, that was pretty much all I needed to get us started. I began saving them and truth be told – I ended up not needing as many as I expected. Surprisingly, even with making four vision boards, we only used a handful of magazines. In short – this means you can probably make a great vision board with only one or two old issues.

I also tried to think outside of the box with the types of magazines I saved. I had great luck finding images and words from my alumni magazine, US Weekly, InStyle, and even the Cambridge Pavers insert from The New York Times (it had awesome background pictures – especially if you like fire pits, pool scenes and sunsets. It was THE perfect vision board magazine for me! Who knew?)!

Once I had my magazines ready, we sat around the table and wrote out a list of things that makes us happy – to create some inspiration. We also included things we wanted to see/do/accomplish this summer.

Next, I told my kids to close their eyes and I read them the notes from Liz at Vision Works NY. My goal was to set their mood for finding the right images and words for their vision boards. This was a great step and really resonated with them.

Time to start cutting!

Now it was time to get to work. We each took a magazine and started cutting out pictures and words. We cut out big things and we cut out small things. We cut out background images and we cut out random things we liked. My kids were SO into this I could not believe it. I knew my 10-year-old art obsessed daughter would love this, but my six-year-old son went to town! Even my four-year-old was engaged and loving it. Because all three of my kids were into it, I could get into it too! Since that doesn’t happen very often, it truly was a gift!

What is the best background to use?

The next step was figuring out the heavy duty background for our vision boards. My initial thought was to recycle canvases from painting birthday parties, but I soon realized we needed a bigger space. I ended up flattening out the cardboard from cereal boxes and making a custom size for each of us.

Covering your vision board background

I took a few pages of “background” and glued them to the cardboard using a regular glue stick. School glue would also work – especially if you use a paint brush. I would just be careful of the amount of school glue you use so the magazine doesn’t pucker. Next, I covered up the words on my background pages with color blocks and images.

Let the collaging begin!

I took out all the words and images I cut out and placed them on my vision board. Finally, my last step was to glue them all down one by one. If you’re the kind of person who likes to throw caution to the wind, you can glue as you go. However, I wanted to make sure everything fit first before committing to a location.

OMG! A collage of all the things I love makes me happy! #Duh

For me, when I am in the inertia of an art project, I get into the zone and don’t really see it as a whole until I am done and take a step back. This is one of my favorite things about creating art. Once I finished my vision board I took a step back, looked, and I just felt so happy. Now, the funny part is – OF COURSE I’m going to feel happy – I literally just made a board of everything that makes me happy! It SHOULD make me happy! Since I completed my vision board, I can’t stop looking at it and smiling. I don’t know if I made a text book “vision board” or simply a really pretty happiness collage, but I love it either way. I can’t stop looking at it and sending it to my friends!

One day or multi day project

Another thing I loved about this project is it took us a few days to complete. We worked on it for an hour a day over three days. You can absolutely do it in one day for instant gratification, but I wanted something that would take longer. I also didn’t want my kids to get bored and lose interest in the project, so I fed it to them in pieces.

It all comes back to the unsung hero of self-isolation – toilet paper

My kids had so much fun cutting out the most random pictures – including the Geico gecko, Lin-Manuel Miranda, elephants, rainbows, and many, many others. Funny enough – we all cut out the Charmin Ultra Soft bear – without even realizing it. So, in conclusion, no matter what we are doing, five months later, we are still thinking about toilet paper (and clearly very loyal to Charmin!)!

This is a great project to do with kids (or adults!) of any age, it helps recycle things around your house, and it costs nothing! I hope you enjoy making your vision boards as much as we enjoyed making ours. I would love to see them when they are done and share in your vision board happiness!

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

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Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

Convert Your Driveway Into a Roller Skating Rink!

I love raising my family in the same town as where I grew up. One of the benefits is sharing places that hold a special place in my heart from my youth. With that said, I don’t think there is another place in the area that bring more childhood memories than roller skating at United Skates of America in Seaford.

Roller Skating Rink Nostalgia

From the yellow postcard inviting me to a roller skating birthday party in the 90’s to the “Skateasaurus” to the square piece of pizza and skating around the rink to a favorite request (“Shout” by Tears for Fears) there are so many memories that pop into my head.

Second Generation Roller Skating Obsession

When my daughter attended her first birthday party at the skating rink, four years ago, I could not believe that the place was exactly the same! I felt like I walked into a time warp from my youth. The skating bug officially bit my daughter – and she never looked back. She got roller skates for the holidays that year, followed by in-line skates for her birthday a few months later. Then, we started giving out skates to her friends as birthday presents. Living in a cul-de-sac helped her hone her skills. On most days you can find her outside skating in circles.

When it was time to plan her birthday party that year, there was no question where she wanted to have it. Luckily, she has an equally skating obsessed best friend. Together, we rented out the rink for a private birthday party and had the whole place to ourselves! It was ah-maaaazing!

This little sk8r grl is now in 4^th grade, the last grade of elementary school in our district. The end of this year culminates with celebrations discussed for all of elementary school. As you can imagine, with Covid-19 halting all of these school functions, she was pretty bummed. Enter United Skates of America.

Community Involvement and Bringing the Roller Skating Rink to You!

As a fan, I have been on its email list for years. It has been my pleasure to share United Skates’ community-oriented programs on my Facebook page, helping spread its tremendously generous programs – including free passes for teacher and first-responders. Then, I got the email of all emails —since you can not go to them right now, they will come to you. Yep! You can now rent a skating floor (and all the accouterments) for your home – right on your very own driveway or patio.

The moment I read this I knew a private, home skating party, would blow any sadness out of her mind from missing her 4^th grade festivities. Luckily, I was 10,000,000% correct!

It was a breeze working with United Skates of America to set this up. They arrived with all the items needed and set up the custom skating rink in about an hour. Since they have interlocking floor pieces they were able to customize it to fit my driveway exactly. Then they set up all of the skates (including the Fisher Price over the shoe ones for my four-year-old), the Skate Mates, and a WiFi enabled sound system with a pre-loaded three hour playlist. All of this is yours for five full hours!

The miracle of the day was that my kids played in the basement the entire time they were setting up the floor. They had no idea what has coming! With bubbling excitement, I called them outside. Their faces were priceless when they saw it. My daughter announced it was “the coolest thing they have ever seen”.

It Was “The Best Day Ever”

It was an absolutely fantastic day. The kids skated, and skated, and skated. Broke for dinner, and skated a little more as the sun set. As I watched I thought how cool it would be for an “after dark” rink set up with glow sticks – thank goodness they have that on the horizon (no pun intended).

As they came to collect the floor, my daughter skated to “The Last Dance” by Donna Summer (because I’m hilarious). I thanked the United Skates staff profusely for thinking outside of the box, for helping parents properly celebrate milestones right now, and for being creative.

Breaking down the floor took much less time and my kids looked forlornly as the workers drove away. My daughter turned to me and said “I don’t think there is anything you could have done for me that would have been cooler than that. Thank you SO SO SO much.” Above all, as a parent, that is the best thing to hear. I was so happy. Not to mention it was an ENTIRE day of an activity for all three of them that kept them interested for five hours straight! Roller skating to the rescue!

A Whole Menu of “At Home” Roller Skate Experiences!

Luckily, the party continued a week later for her as two elementary schools in our district came together to offer the graduating 4^th graders an end of year Virtual Glow Dance Party. For this zoom dance party – United Skates of America had an MC and DJ and song dedications from the teachers. Plus, all kind of things that light up and flash! I am so grateful to them for putting this together and once again thinking of a creative way to celebrate these kids. The whole family had a blast dancing on the driveway as we projected it onto the fence. If you ask my children, they would say I had the most fun.

Likewise, United Skates of America stepped up and created several at-home options. These include Curbside Pick-up with LOL Dolls and Minions, 4^th of July Glow to Go, and their Glow Dance Party.

For more information on any of the things above, please reach out to Jen at jsimonettiskate@gmail.com and be sure to tell her The Mint Chip Mama sent you!

Giveaway

Win a Family 4-Pack of FREE Admission Passes to United Skates of America!

To win, please comment below with your favorite rollerskating memory!

Winner will be chosen Friday, July 3rd at 1pm.

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

Recreational Vehicle Travel – The Luxury “Out of the Box” Summer Vacation of 2020

The Mint Chip Mama - Recreational Vehicle Travel

Spend Your Summer Enjoying Recreational Vehicle Travel!

Now is the time to think outside the box and be creative with our time and family. With that said, I’m lucky to have many friends who are experts in their fields. Thusly, to spice things up, I’ve decided to launch series of guest bloggers for The Mint Chip Mama!

Summer 2020 is going to look different. Since I love seeing the world in unique ways, I thought it would be fun to begin with Wanderology.

If YOU have something unique to say – or a fun idea for this summer – and want to be a guest blogger, please feel free to get in touch with me at themintchipmama@gmail.com!

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Traveling By Wheel

With many COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it’s easy to feel cooped up sitting at home. A record number of planes continue to be grounded, canceling summer plans around the world. Because of this, the face of travel is like we have never seen it before. International flights may be off the agenda, however, the good news is there’s an easy solution. This includes traveling with your family in a safe and socially distanced way. Furthermore, this luxury solution comes with concierge assistance and a 24/7 medical travel pod.

RV Travel

RVs, or recreational vehicles, offer a fantastic opportunity to see your home country in a whole new light. You can escape the everyday grind and hit the open road in your own hotel-on-wheels. While you may have never considered it before, RV travel may surprise you with it’s flexibility and reward.

The Options Are Endless

There is an RV to suit every budget. From basic models with all creature comforts to deluxe motorhomes with amenities rivaling the most modern hotels. While the variety of options may seem overwhelming, a travel professional can help you find the best option for your family. Plus, we can guarantee your travel will be in a new model motorhome from Coachmen and Thor. Accordingly, with some RVs sleeping up to seven people, you can get the whole family together for some stylish quality time.

It’s Not Just A Hotel On Wheels

Comfortable as they may be, you needn’t feel confined to your RV during your trip. You can tie in stops to camp under the stars in some of the country’s best and most picturesque campgrounds. Alternatively, if you would like some nights away from the great outdoors, we can book a luxurious lodge or five-star hideaway. Both will offer the opportunity to kick back and relax after a day on the road. If the mood suddenly strikes for a last-minute stay, we can easily arrange for overnight accommodation and are always just one phone call away.

Leave The Planning To Wanderology

If planning your route feels a little overwhelming, we can also provide customized itineraries to ensure that your family has a trip that perfectly suits you. Whether it is hiking some of the country’s most dramatic landscapes or immersing yourself in Navajo heritage, you can enjoy the benefits of a personally tailored trip and activities organized down to the very last detail. Our itineraries take away all the guesswork, leaving you to simply follow the route and freeing up more time for you to spend on the things that matter most.

RVs allow you to travel some of the world’s most awe-inspiring roads, taking in the wealth of sights and attractions that are waiting to be discovered along the way. But we know that road trips can be daunting, especially if it is your first time. Wanderology can provide a whole host of services to make your journey as seamless and stress-free as possible – including initial grocery packs and bespoke music playlists to make even the longest of drives more fun.

Your Safety Comes First

With all that is currently going on in the world, the health and safety of your family is our number one concern. RV travel is an obvious choice for its ease of abiding by social distancing guidelines. Wanderology goes the extra mile to give you peace of mind. Each RV is deep-cleaned before you arrive, with an optional daily cleaning service available to keep your vehicle spick and span.

When it comes to navigation, we make sure there is no room for error with remote road guided assistance and even auto weather rerouting. Guaranteeing that you will never be left high and dry, there will be a concierge field agent accessible throughout your whole trip, and 24/7 medical travel pod assistance on the off chance you should need it. It is these small details that make a big difference, ensuring that your next RV vacation is one that you and your family will never forget.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’d like to find out more about traveling by RV this summer, get in touch with Wanderology by emailing rebecca@wanderology.com or calling 516-636-TRIP (8747). Plus, be sure to follow us on Instagram for travel tips and inspiration from around the globe.

The Mint Chip Mama - Recreational Vehicles - The Luxury Out of the Box Summer Travel of 2020

Giveaway

Our friends at Thames & Kosmos and Bicycle Playing Cards want to make your summer travel even better!

Enter to win a summer family fun pack of a My Discovery Telescope and deck of Bicycle Playing Cards!

Just imagine playing a heated game of Spit as you cruise Route 66 before stopping to stargaze at the end of the night. Sounds like perfection to me!

To win, comment below on The Mint Chip Mama’s blog post about what your dream plan is for the Summer of 2020.

Winner picked on Tuesday, June 23^rd at 1pm.

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

Kids Grow Up Way Too Fast! Celebrating My Last Little Three Year Old Turning Four

My Last Little Three Year Old

I have one hour left of until my last little three year old turns four. Tomorrow – my third child, my Benjamin, will wake up as a four year old.

The Transition From Age Three to Age Four

The transition from age three to four struck me hard each time it happened. Since the beginning of the month, it hit me – this is my last little three year old. This is the last time I will watch one of my babies turn four.

I started thinking about why the change from three to four is so monumental. Then I realized that SO much happens in those 365 days it is one of the biggest and most life changing times in a child’s life.

Everything I Needed to Learn, I Learned as a Toddler

Between the ages of three and four my kids began school, they became potty trained, they learned how to dress themselves and put their shoes on themselves, they learned how to write their names, they learned how to read their names, they learned the alphabet, they learned how to count, they dropped their naps and could stay up without going ballistic, they learned how to feed themselves, they transitioned out of the crib and into a bed, they could finally pump on a swing, they learned how to put on a DVD, and they learned how to use the TV remote. That’s A LOT!

In short – they learned how to be self-sufficient, self-entertaining little humans.

The Mint Chip Mama - Nassau County Fire Museum

I know there is a famous line about learning everything one needs to know in kindergarten, but besides driving a car (which he can as long as it’s powered by a 12v battery) he’s got it all down pat – at three feet tall.

The Mint Chip Mama - Adventureland Antique Cars

Even Big Shots Need Their Mommy’s Help

Three is a funny age – it is an age of “I can do it myself” and an age of “please stay with me and hold my hand.” It is an age that begins with changing a little tush multiple times a day to an age where you’re told to leave the bathroom because they need privacy (often as the bathroom door closes in your face).

It’s an age where you leave this little person who was attached literally and figuratively at your hip and/or to your breast – moments before – in the care of strangers to “learn” whatever a three-year-old learns in school (and also when they come home with THE BEST art projects).

It’s an age where they want to snuggle and snuggle and snuggle and then tell you while grunting (like you’re an idiot) that they only like to eat cereal on Tuesdays with an attitude so strong you don’t want to point out yesterday was – in fact – Thursday. Or that they ate cereal every day last week.

A Four Year Old is a Real Little Person

At this age they can tell delicious elaborate imaginative stories and make up (not at all) funny jokes. They have genuine interest in things and places and can remember stuff you did with them. The relationship evolves from “omg I have to keep this thing alive” to “its fun hanging out with this little person, he likes ducks, I found a cool lake to visit that he will love”.

At this age, my son can finally hold his own against his older brother (6!) and sister (10!) and become more of a playmate than a burden – or whatever the nicer word for “little brother” is in this realm.

The Mint Chip Mama - Henry Kaufman Campground

But really – they become a little person. They evolve so much and finish off the year as a little person. When I look at my son, I think of being pregnant. Being pregnant and not at all prepared to welcome another child into my home.

Breathe in the Moments

I think of the difficult days of juggling three kids in the beginning and how hard it all was for me. But also I think about how he was such a good baby. My last little three year old was so chill and like a little accessory being carried around wherever I had to go. Furthermore, I think of how special nursing him was each time because I knew he was my last and it could end at any moment. I think of how sneaking away with him in those moments were just ours and stolen fractions of calm in the storm of our lives.

I think of the funny little boy who tried desperately to jump for so long until one day he was airborne. Or how proud he was the first time he went to the bathroom himself (and how sometimes I still catch him giving himself a chocolate chip and congratulatory speech).

The Mint Chip Mama - Long Island Children's Museum

I think about how he has the most warm, sweet smile and lights up a room. Also I think about his laugh. Plus how he talks like an 85-year-old man. I love how he mispronounces words and then giggles when we laugh at him.

The Mint Chip Mama - My Little Three Year Old

I think of how he insists on sitting and reading books with his siblings. He loves making up elaborate stories he swears to be reading however they are as far from the text as possible. I think about the hugs he used to give me when I would pick him up from school (remember when kids went to school?) as he had just returned from the war.

I Think Of The Unlimited Hugs

But mostly I think of his unlimited hugs and kisses, how he is the best snuggler around, and how he sometimes puts on a watch for the sole purpose of him being able to tell me when it’s “snuggle time”.

We Were Smart to Have a Third Kid Instead of Getting A Dog

People often debate between having a third child or getting a dog. As I mentioned to someone the other day – my third child sits all snuggled up in my lap while I pet his head, loves taking walks AND is potty trained! I am pretty sure I won that argument.

My Last Little Three Year Old Officially Turned Four

Well, the clock has struck midnight, I now have a four-year-old. Before bed last night, he asked if he would wake up and have really long legs. I cannot wait to find out. Happy 4^th birthday, my little Benj.

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

Summering In Place: How to Make Your Backyard A Wicked Cool Summer Cocoon.

As we continue to shelter-in-place because of Covid-19, everyone is trying to pack their backyard with as much summer fun as possible. We all have the common goal to keep our kids busy. With the schools now closed through the end of the year and camp a distant long shot, the time has come to buck up. We can do this together. We can make our backyard a wicked cool summer cocoon!

Every summer I research the new and fun things out there and have amassed quite a collection! Here is a list of the highlights that have been repeat guests each year. Also included are some recent additions that have yet to be put down since they’ve arrived on our doorstep.

Also a quick thank you to all the front line workers who are caring for those in need, allowing us to safely shelter-in-place at home. It is because of you that we can create a wicked cool backyard cocoon.

Water Fun

Banzai Wiggling Water Sprinkler

Bestway H2O GO! Art Blobz

Intex Surf ’N Slide Shark

Bonzai Splash Mat

Intex Quick-Fill AC Electric Air Pump

Swingset Fun

PlayMonster Super Duper Spinner Swing & its little sister, Super Spinner Swing

Creative Playthings Stand N Swing

Trapeze Bar

General All Around Backyard Fun

Jumbo Connect 4 Game Set

Arcshell Long Range Two Way Radios with Earpiece

Razor Spark Ultra Kick Scooter

Stepping Stones Kit

ECOXGEAR EcoDrift Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Aladdin Classic Mason Cups 16oz

Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt / Ice Cream Maker

Miss Bernard is a Wild Card – The My Weird School Game

Mini Phone Tripod

Dueling Stomp Rockets

Sports Equipment

Joola Midsized Table Tennis Table & Joola paddles & balls

Franklin Sports Pop Up Soccer Goals

Boulder Portable Pickelball/Badminton/Volleyball Net & Amazin’ Aces Pickleball Paddle & Ball Set

Coolaroo Isabella Gazebo-10′ X 12′

Night Fun

Mini Movie Projector

Fire Pit & Light N Go Log

Franklin’s Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Machine Popper & Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Pre-measured Packs

Air Sofa

Thames & Kosmos My Discovery Telescope

*Update* Now that it’s the end of July, and we’re half way through the summer, I wanted to update this post with some fun inside things to do as well, because phew! It’s been hot! I’d love for you to go check out some fun, easy and free arts & crafts you can do with recycled things easily found around your house. These activities are just as fun as playing in your wicked cool backyard cocoon, with the added benefit of your wicked cool air conditioner.

What are some of your favorite backyard summer fun items?

What do your kids love to play with in the front of the house?

All items are very much loved by my kids. Some we bought, some were sent by the brands.

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

How to Sew a Simple Cloth Face Mask

The Mint Chip Mama - How to Sew a Simple Face Mask

Sew a Simple Cloth Face Mask

As Covid-19 spreads we must be protecting ourselves from contact. Many people in the medical profession are near, but not close enough to get the highly coveted, low inventory medical grade face masks.

Helping Our Community Stay Safe

We wanted to help those in our community who need masks but can’t get them right now. This includes staff in nursing homes, the elderly, etc. For them, these masks will help, but of course, we understand nothing replaces an actual medical-grade mask if needed.

We also enacted our made-up “Eva’s Law” – like New York Governor Cuomo’s Matilda’s Law – in honor of my mom – Eva. With that said, we will make a mask for anyone in our community who is over 70 or with a compromised immune system in our fantastic flannel “I Love Grandma” fabric! We will also happily drop off the mask right into their mailbox.

There’s a very generous woman in our town who shared in a Facebook group that she is creating “kits” and donating to anyone who knows how to sew. She is then collecting them back and distributing them to people requesting them in our community (all steps are being done outside on her stoop with minimal contact between humans). JoAnn Fabrics is also creating kits for sewers and then distributing completed masks to local hospitals.

Easy Directions On How To Sew a Simple Cloth Face Mask

I don’t like videos so I’m making an easy easy basic pictorial guide on how to make a mask. If you can make a pillow you can make a mask.

Here we go!

Simple Cloth Face Mask Supplies

2 pieces of fabric: 6″ x 9″

2 pieces of elastic: 6.5″ (1/4″ or smaller)

Pins

If you don’t have a sewing machine you can sew by hand as well!

This is a team effort! I highly suggest setting up an assembly line if you have another helper in your house or town. The “kits” are our first step. Then I’m pinning the masks while my 10-year-old daughter sews them.

Easy To Follow Steps

Step 1: Put each piece of elastic diagonally on opposite corners of material piece A (blue)

Step 2: Cover piece A with piece B (Olaf).

*Remember to put material “inside out” so when you flip it (in Step 9) the correct sides are on the outside (like when you make a pillow).

Next,Step 3: Line up pieces A, B, and elastic in the corner and pin them together on a diagonal

Step 4: Repeat on the opposite corner

Step 5: Take elastic from the top corner and make a “U” shape on the other side. (This will be the ear strap)

Step 6: Line up pieces A, B, and elastic in the corner and pin them together (same as Step 3)

Step 7: Repeat on the bottom corner

Now all 4 corners are pinned with elastic.

You Are Ready To Sew!

Step 8: Start on one of the long sides in the middle, double back (I sew 5 stitches, reverse for 5 stitches, and sew another 5 stitches), and then go around the whole rectangle until you get back to the original side. Double back again about 2″ from where you started leaving a gap big enough to flip the piece inside out – or right side out.

You can double back on each corner as you go around to reinforce the elastic in each corner.

Now my daughter’s favorite part!

Flip It!

Step 9: Flip your mask so it’s right side & elastic out! It will now start to look like a mask!

Much like when you make a pillow, there will be a 2″ gap where you didn’t sew on the long side of the rectangle.

She is sewing and flipping all of these and then passing them back to me for the next wave of the assembly line.

Step 10: Vertically pin the gap.

*Update: After making more masks, I’ve changed this a bit to speed things up. Now, I’m pinning the gap as well as pinning the pleats at the same time and then sewing around it all twice. This was hard for my daughter to do so I was taking it over after Step 9. For kids – continue below. For Adults – use this for a bit more efficiency.*

Step 11: Sew all the way around (as close to the edges as you can) to reinforce your stitching and make the mask flat.

You’re Almost Done!

She is sewing all of these and then passing them back to me for the next wave of the assembly line.

Home stretch!

This is the last and hardest part but is still super easy.

It’s All About The Pleats

Step 12: Fold the material to make pleats (there is much discussion on having 1, 2, or 3 pleats. It’s up to you. I used 2) and pin each side vertically. Make sure all pleats are facing the same direction.

I eyeballed the pleats each time. I found it easier to lay the mask out flat, make the pleat, poke one pin in standing up on each side (so the pleat was even) and then go back and put each pin in through all the material.

Step 13: Sew all around the mask one more time securing the pleats.

I’ve been lining the foot up with my original stitches (from Step 11) while I go around the rectangle.

YOU ARE NOW DONE!!

Voila! You have a mask!

You have helped the world! 🙂

We hope this helps!

Please be sure to follow The Mint Chip Mama on Facebook, Instagram, and right here on my blog. Please also enjoy the list I’ve created of all the free live steaming classes while we’re all (hopefully) staying home and social distancing!

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Type your email…

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

Free Online Classes – Covid-19 Virus Staycation of 2020: Facebook Live/Zoom/Instagram/Twitter

Corona Virus StThe Mint Chip Mama - Corona Virus Staycation of 2020aycation of 2020

Welcome to the Free Online Classes – Covid-19 Virus Staycation. I’ve compiling a list of free Facebook Live/Zoom/Instagram events throughout the country while we’re all (hopefully) Coronostaycationing. Please share & if you know of any, please advise. List will be updated throughout the day by The Mint Chip Mama. Please email me at themintchipmama@gmail.com.

The Mint Chip Mama - Corona Virus Staycation of 2020

Free Online Classes – Covid-19 Virus Staycation 2020

All daily “classes” are listed in chronological order for each day. If you don’t see a link the class ended. Links will be updated as more get added.

Please note – I’m not sure if all the “daily” classes are still running. If you go on one of them, please lmk! I’m updating as I see them pop up.*

One off classes are listed by time & date.

If you’re looking to sew an easy face mask, please check out our tutorial.

Please follow The Mint Chip Mama blog, on Facebook & on Instagram. THANK YOU! 🙂 Happy Staying Home!! 🌈

*Apologies if the formatting is wonky, I’m updating from different devices.

FREE DAILY FB LIVE/IG/TWITTER PROGRAMS:

Sing a Long with Joanie Leeds
9am, daily
https://www.facebook.com/joanieleedsmusic/

Lincoln Center

POP Up Classrooms

10am, weekdays

https://facebook.com/LincolnCenterNYC

*******

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
Story Hour

*******

Music Monkey Jungle

*******

Jamestown Settlement & the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

History is Fun Classes

10am, 11am, 12pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays

https://www.historyisfun.org

*******

Mike Messer Music

https://www.facebook.com/MesserMusic/videos

(One of our favorites!)

*******

Mr. John’s Music for Kids

10:30am, daily

https://facebook.com/events/s/mr-johns-music-for-kids-via-fa/637532507047710/?ti=icl

*******

Flamingo Rampant
Story Hour

*******

Edinboro Family Martial Arts Center

*******

Children’s Museum of the East End

*******

Brooklyn Game Lab LIVE

*******

Levar Burton Reads

12pm, daily for Children

https://mobile.twitter.com/levarburton

*******

Pete the Cat

*******

Work out with the Rockettes

*******

Broadway Utica

*******

The BeatBuds

*******

Poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Notebooking Videos

1pm, daily

*******

Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band

*******

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Lunch Doodle with Mo Willems

*******

At Home with Emily Arrow
Music, Stories & Mindfulness
1pm, Daily
https://m.facebook.com/helloemilyarrow/

*******

Mindfulness Schools

Mindfulness Class for Kids

1pm, Tues, Weds & Thurs

Some of Our Favorites “In” Person

Dan Gutman

Reading chapters from his books

2pm, daily

https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Gutman

*******

Oliver Jeffers

Storytime

2pm, daily

https://instagram.com/oliverjeffers?igshid=um7n21qa1k6q

*******

Draw Everyday with JJK

https://www.youtube.com/studiojjk

*******

Mossimo Bottura

2pm, daily

https://instagram.com/massimobottura

*******

Gotham Gymnastics

Gymnastics Class

2pm, daily

https://m.facebook.com/gothamgymnastics/

*******

Stars in the House

Conversations with Stars of Stage & Screen

2pm Daily

#starsinthehouse

*******

Cooking Matters

2pm, Thursdays

https://www.facebook.com/cookingmatters.national/

*******

Sage & Honey Supper Club

Quarantine Cooking Class

2:30pm, Thurs

https://www.facebook.com/sagehoneyslo/

*******

Chosen Foods

Quarantine Cooking with Chef Maria

3pm, Fridays

https://www.instagram.com/chosenfoods/

*******

Wonderspark Puppets

Daily DIY Puppet Making

4pm Monday-Friday

https://m.facebook.com/WonderSparkPuppets/

*******

Children’s Museum of the East End

Mondays with Mac

4pm, Mondays

*******

Cooking with Julie

5pm, Mon, Wed & Fri

*******

Afterschool Village

*******

The Old Globe Arts

Behind the Curtain Theater Arts Classes

6pm, Wednesdays

Playwriting Program

6pm, Tues & Thurs

https://www.facebook.com/TOGArtsEngagement/

*******

Children’s Museum of the East End

Family Trivia Night

6pm, Wednesdays

*******

Children’s Museum of the East End

Crafting with Kevin

6pm, Thursdays

*******

Children’s Museum of the East End

Pizza & Pajamas

6pm, Fridays

https://m.facebook.com/ChildrensMuseumOfTheEastEnd/

#cmee

*******

Afterschool Village

Storytime with Miyam Bialik

7pm, Mondays

*******

Boston By Foot

Virtual Tuesdays: Armchair Tours & Book Talks

7pm, Tuesdays

https://bostonbyfoot.org/virtual-tuesdays-armchair-tours-book-talks

*******

Cosmic Fit Club

Yoga

7:30pm, Mondays

https://m.facebook.com/cosmicfitclub/

*******

Laura Mastriano presents: Nightly Themed Family Bingo!

7:30pm, daily

https://m.facebook.com/LAProdsEvents

*******

Stars in the House

Conversations with Stars of Stage & Screen

8pm Daily

#starsinthehouse

*******

https://www.facebook.com/SouthStreetSeaportMuseum/

*******

Gallery North

Adventures at Home

Daily

https://m.facebook.com/GalleryNorthLI/

*******

Julie Andrews

Julie’s Library: Practically Perfect Book podcast

Wednesdays

https://www.facebook.com/JuliesLibraryShow/

*******

The Afterschool Village

Weekly Classes

*******

CONCERTS:

The Met Museum

Balcony Bar Live From Home

5pm, Fridays

https://www.facebook.com/metmuseum/

*******

TodayTix

The Intermission Mission (Broadway stars singing)

6pm, Daily

https://instagram.com/todaytix

*******

Feinstein’s/54 Below

6:30pm, daily

For schedule check: 54below.co m

*******

Indigo Girls

7pm, Thursdays

https://www.facebook.com/theindigogirls/

*******

Death Cab for Cutie

https://m.facebook.com/deathcabforcutie/

*******

DJ Kopec

Live Dj Dance Party!

7pm, Saturdays

https://www.facebook.com/DJ-Kopec-251296750552/

*******

Live Concerts

9pm, daily

https://www.facebook.com/BoomerProductionsInc/

*******

Daily Concert (not sure what time)

https://m.facebook.com/michaelfranti/

*******

Various Daily Concerts

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/together-at-home-chris-martin-coronavirus-concert/

*******

Live Nation Live Streaming Concerts

https://www.livenation.com/livefromhome

*******

Billboard Concerts

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9335531/coronavirus-quarantine-music-events-online-streams

*******

AXS Tv

Tons of concerts and Q & As

https://www.facebook.com/AXSTV/

*******

Sofar Sounds

Concerts from Emerging Artists

https://www.sofarsounds.com/v/listeningroom

BROADER ONLINE LEARNING FOR KIDS & ADULTS:

Scholastic
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

*******

The Teacher’s Corner
Word Search Creator
https://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-own/word-search/

*******

Fluency & Fitness
Free 21 Days of Lessons
https://bit.ly/38UdaWH

*******

Mills Virtual Tutoring Academy
Various math classes at various times
https://m.facebook.com/millsvirtualtutoring/

*******

Virtual Field Trips
Various
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/mobilebasic

*******

Education Companies Offering a Variety of Free Classes
Various

*******

Google Classrooms Tutorial for Parents & Kids
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgqtCi7hdo&feature=youtu.be

*******

Learning in the Time of Corona
Various
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearninginCorona/

*******

Museums with Virtual Tours with Travel + Leisure
Various
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

*******

Kahn Academy
SAT Prep
https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

*******

e-learningforkids
Math Help
https://en.e-learningforkids.org/math/

*******

Open Culture
Art, Culture, etc
http://www.openculture.com/

*******

Broadway Goes Viral
Broadway Stars Performing!
https://m.facebook.com/broadwaygoesviral/

*******

Live Streaming Music Classes & Daily Shows
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cUldDMYYhMy-gBDChEmuWZzxI2TyKp3lYrkEsSKcPqs/htmlview?usp=sharing&sle=true

*******

Virtual Music Museums
https://tinyurl.com/

*******

NY Family Media Resources
https://www.newyorkfamily.com/free-resources-and-subscriptions-for-remote-learning-and-home-schooling-due-to-coronavirus/

*******

Brain Pop

https://www.brainpop.com/

*******

Mystery Science

https://mysteryscience.com/lessons/seasonal/current-events

*******

California Academy of Sciences

https://www.calacademy.org/educators/virtual-programs

*******

Mystery Doug

Science Classes

https://mysterydoug.com/

*******

Netflix

Watch a movie & group comment with your friends

https://www.netflixparty.com

*******

Live Dance Performances

Dance Magazine

*******

Library of Congress

By the People Project- virtually transcribing historical documents

https://crowd.loc.gov/help-center/how-to-transcribe/

*******

21 Virtual Tours (museums, shows, zoos)

*******

A Fine a Parent

110 Resources at Home

*******

Red Tricycle

Huge list of live events

https://redtri.com/events/new-york/creativity-corner-ca-1585656000000/20200404

*******

Travel & Leisure

Virtual Tours or European Palaces & Castles

https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/architecture-design/google-arts-culture-app-europe-castles

*******

Broadway Podcast Network

https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com

*******

But Why?

*******

Becka Watkins

Art tutorials for kids & adults

*******

Plan C from Maker Space

Make Magazine

Lots of fun ideas & a weekly magician maker camp

https://m.facebook.com/makemagazine

*******

YogiBeans Yoga

Multiple Yoga Classes (all levels)

*******

Blue Buffalo Yoga

Daily Yoga

https://www.facebook.com/bluebuffaloyoga/

*******

Ballet Nova Center For Dance

*******

Save With Stories

Celebrities Read Their Fav Books

https://instagram.com/savewithstories

#SaveWithStories

*******

Free Online Classes – Covid-19 Virus Staycation: CLASSES / ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS:

Trivia, Ad

*******

Northwell Health

*******

Chef Mario Asaro & Theme Night Wines

Virtual Game Night & Cooking Class (recipes included)

8pm, Thursdays

*******

Online Mah Jong Resources (very important in this time of crisis. We miss our games!!😂) from Modern Mahjong
Growing List…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mahjongcommunity/permalink/878728959213855/

More on The Mint Chip Mama:
Real Mom Life, Family Travel & Everyday Chaos

Looking for the Perfect Gift or Party Idea?

Love to Travel? So Do We!

Feeling Nostalgic?

Check out these classic family movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s — perfect for cozy nights and sharing the timeless favorites you grew up loving with your kids!

📍Follow @themintchipmama on Instagram for real-life moments, parenting fun, perimenopause talk, beauty tips, food finds, and more.

My First Baby, My Daughter is 10!

A decade.

Wow, a decade has passed since I felt the excitement of the unknown of becoming a mom.

A decade filled with turning over, first steps, first words, sleepless nights.

Also a decade of passing along clothes too small that I never thought would fit you.

A decade of not knowing if I’d ever sleep again to having to wake you up for school in the morning.

The Mint Chip Mama - Baby at First Birthday Party

But a decade of having you grow inside of me, being attached to my chest, attached to my hip, holding my hand, going off to school, waving to you on a bus, sleeping at a friend’s house, to going to sleep away camp for a week.

A decade of Music Together class, ballet class, gymnastic class, acting class, art class, piano and violin lessons.

A Decade Of Togetherness

Also a decade of wearing you, holding you, pushing you in a stroller, strapping you into your car seat, sitting in a 3rd row in someone else’s car.

A decade of you in an infant carrier, rear facing seat, front facing seat, high back booster, backless booster, nothing at all.

Also a decade of a bassinet, crib, toddler bed, big girl bed, top bunk bed, sleeping bag at someone else’s house.

A decade of some of the same exact friends because we are very, very lucky.

Also a decade of Dora, Doc McStuffins, Ninja Turtles, Harry Potter and Hamilton.

A decade of no teeth, some teeth, falling out teeth, a palate expander, impending braces.

Also a decade of me dressing you, me helping you dress you, you coming down to breakfast dressed on your own with a great sense of style.

A decade of feeding you custom made milk, to baby food, to finger food, to solid food, to take out food, to the guacamole you now make for me.

Also a decade of putting circle stickers in a line to sewing on a machine unsupervised and giving handmade gifts to family and friends.

A decade of you taking your first step, first jump to roller blading and riding your bicycle around our court.

Also a decade of reading books to you and you reading the books you’ve written to me.

A decade of brushing your beautiful bleach blond hair to dark blond hair to dirty blond hair.

Also a decade of laundry folded with the sizes progressively getting bigger until it reached a size that fits both of us.

A decade of museum & library visits and beach vacations.

Also a decade of filling our days with activities with endless hours to spare to rushing to after school activities in the little time we have now.

A decade.
Wow, a decade!

A Decade Of

snuggling and cuddling.
laughing and crying.
talking and talking and talking and talking.
special moments we shared.
boo-boos kissed.
secret handshakes.
waiting on lines together for roller coasters.
making art together.
walks together.
going out to dinner together.
A decade of Mommy – Daughter Day’s together.
And one of you trying to stay up “5 minutes more”.

A decade of absolute shining pride at the person you are and the person you’re becoming
every.
single.
day.

Five years ago I wrote a piece to you on your fifth birthday. I said five was the turning point from being a little kid to becoming a big kid. I couldn’t believe you were five. Now I can’t believe you are TEN!

TEN!

DOUBLE DIGITS!

If five was a big kid what is 10? Don’t make me say a “tween”.

You had promise then.
You have now officially evolved into the dream I always had for a daughter.
The partner in crime always up for anything.
The companion who I can drag anywhere, at any time, to do and try anything.

At five I feared the things for you I knew were coming. They came. They’re here. They suck. But you hold your head high and you act like a lady, which is all we could ask. With that said, you know how to behave and how to laugh at absurdity. Plus you know who is a real friend and who is not. And you are simply amazing.

You encourage me to be a better person and also cheerlead everyone in our family. Additionally, you are kind and funny and sweet and smart as a whip. Funny enough, you have a busier social life than most adults I know. Finally, you are the person that I – and everyone – wants to be with because you are you.

Today

You asked us if you could stay home today to celebrate your birthday with us. Of course, you presented us with a petition that you wrangled three dozen classmates, plus parents & teachers to sign. You cracked us up. But this is you. You give 150%. You put your mind to something, and you get what you want. We joked you needed to get it notarized, and I have no doubt – if we were serious – you’d find a way. Little did you know there was no way we’d let you be anywhere today except with us celebrating YOU and the decade we’ve had together.

You want to spend today, your birthday, in Manhattan (your first home) doing all the things we used to do when you were small and we lived here. You remember. It was all worth it.

I couldn’t believe how quickly the first five year went. I can’t believe how quickly the last five years went.

10.

TEN!

TEN!!!

Happy birthday Becca Bear.

Also Happy birthday to my baby girl – who people used to think was a preemie boy.

Happy birthday to my girl who hates pink and dolls and loves reading and sports.

Happy birthday to my girl who – for her 10th birthday – is donating her hair today because she wants to be someone who helps repair the world. We’re doing it together at the place I donated my hair when I was pregnant with you ten years ago.

Happy 10th birthday to my daughter Rebecca who has made each and every day in the last decade worth getting out of bed in the morning.

My love for you continues to grow as I see what you do, who you are, what you stand for and what you believe in. This includes when you laugh from your belly or help one of your brothers. When a teacher calls to say you are funny and smart. When I see your art work, hear you play the violin or piano, or listen to a story or poem you wrote.

Thank you for the last decade.
Thank you for picking me to be your mom.

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