Staying at The Hotel Hershey: Woodside Cottages Review

If you're familiar with Hershey, Pennsylvania, you probably know about the beautiful Hotel Hershey, located just minutes from Hersheypark. But have you ever heard of The Woodside Cottages at The Hotel Hershey? We've been visiting Hershey for years and we always wondered what the cottages were like. They sit behind the hotel, essentially in their own little neighborhood. Well, we finally had a chance to experience them ourselves, and I'm so excited to tell you all about them! This is not a sponsored post (just an honest opinion, from me to you, so read on)!

Gingerbread House Hacks : Tips for Easy Construction and Decoration

The first gingerbread house I ever built was condemned.  The walls slid together, the frosting was too watery, and if a gingerbread man tried to move in, he would have been killed by a collapsing roof. But over the years I've learned a few tips and tricks to build a better gingerbread house. Especially when there are kids involved!

A Review of Gingerbread Wonderland at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

What is Gingerbread Wonderland at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum? Well, have you ever wondered what it would be like if all of the gingerbread cookies got together during the holidays and had a big party?  I'm sure there would be dancing cookies and palace ballrooms and colorful characters.  I'm sure it would look a lot like The Frelinghuysen Arboretum's Gingerbread Wonderland!

*this post has been freshly updated for 2019!

Santa Lollipops Made with Jolly Ranchers: Great Christmas Candy Gifts!

Making your own lollipops (or suckers) is not as hard as you think! These Christmas Santa lollipops were not tough at all, and they look adorable when they're finished! All you need are some Jolly Ranchers and a little imagination! Well, and this tutorial. But you get the idea...

Gift Alert: Diggerland U.S.A. Black Friday Holiday Sale!

It's so hard to find gifts for the kids (or adults!) who have everything. So if you're looking for a unique gift idea this year, why not think outside the box and purchase an experience? One of our favorite New Jersey attractions, Diggerland USA, is having a HUGE Black Friday sale going on now  through December 2nd! Read on!

Kellytoy Introduces New Squishmallows for November 2019

New Squishmallows for 2019 alert!! Kellytoy released seventeen (17!!!) new Squishmallow characters for November 2019, and I have the scoop for you. Check out these adorable photos and kiss your savings goodbye because I know every Squishmallows Squad member out there is going to want all of these! Myself included. 😉

Kids Ride Free on NY Waterway Ferries This Holiday Season!

I'm always searching for the best way to get to New York City during the holidays, especially with kids in tow. If you want to go see the tree at Rockefeller Center, attend the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, or even see the ball drop on New Year's Eve in Times Square, the ferry from NY Waterway is one of the best options (I know this from experience, believe me). And this season, kids under 12 ride NY Waterway ferries for free! Read on for details and any exclusions that may apply.

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Gift Ideas for Kids - Plus, a GIVEAWAY!!

My Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide is finally here! If you're looking for gift ideas for boys, girls or both, I've got you covered. I organized my ideas into categories: STEM, Building, Books, Dolls, Animals/Plush and so much more! I included handy labeled photos and links to all products. Check it out!

Then, be sure to enter my AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY at the end of this post! It's part of the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop, so don't miss it!

A Review of Hershey Sweet Lights and Hershey's Chocolate World (part 2)

If you haven't had a chance, please check out Part 1 of my two part blog series, Christmas in Hershey.  In Part 1 I talked about Hershey Park's Christmas Candy Lane and The Hotel Hershey. Here in Part 2, I'll talk about Hershey Sweet Lights and Chocolate World, both of which I love. And please note, this is NOT a sponsored post. Since writing it I have become a part of the Hershey's Sweetest Families Panel, but when this was written, it was not sponsored. If you like my Hershey stuff (and I hope you do), be sure to check out my Hershey Insider Page for all of my Hershey posts.

This post has been updated for 2019!

LEGOLAND New York Resort, Holovis and ETF Ride Systems Reveal The LEGO Factory Adventure Ride!

LEGOLAND New York revealed awesome details about another ride coming to their theme park in 2020. The LEGO Factory Adventure Ride will feature the world’s first use of on-ride tracking technology. By identifying the attributes of guests and mapping their position in the virtual space, the ride transforms riders into LEGO Minifigures right before their own eyes! LEGOLAND New York revealed the news at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) annual Expo in Orlando, along with the ride technology designer, Holovis. The event was also broadcast live on Facebook. Read on for more details about LEGOLAND New York, coming 2020, and see what's in store for this incredible theme park!

Mummenschanz RE:PLAY - a Creative Breath of Fresh Air in a Technological World

Thinking about taking your child to see a show, play or musical in New York City? It's often hard to choose the right one, especially if your children are very young. RE:PLAY, a visually spectacular show featuring Mummenschanz, is now playing at The New Victory Theater. It's the perfect way to ignite a creative spark in children of all ages! And they do it beautifully without computerized special effects, loud music or words. Read on for more details.

Fun Christmas Attractions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

What are the best Christmas and holiday attractions in New Jersey and beyond? I've got some suggestions for you! The holiday season is upon us, and if you're anything like me, you're itching to do some 'holiday stuff' with your family.  And I'm not talking crafts or baking- I mean, cool trips that you can take for some holiday themed fun! So here are some of my favorite must-visit holiday locations in the tri-state area.  Be sure to scroll down for a full list of even more holiday ideas, too!!

*This post has been freshly updated for 2019!

New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium Opening at American Dream in 2020!

Have you heard about New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium? Opening in 2020 alongside LEGOLAND Discovery Center at American Dream, SEA LIFE will be a 35,000-square-foot aquarium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, themed around New York City’s most iconic moments and landmarks. It's playfully dubbed, 'City Under the Sea.' Read on to learn more!

Everyone Matters: A Tribute to a Lost Friend and Operation Christmas Child

Happy World Kindness Day! In honor of the occasion, I want to share a story with you. In 2015, the blogging community lost a wonderful writer and friend. Her name was Melissa Matters, and she passed away suddenly at the age of 36, leaving behind two beautiful children, a husband and family. I never met Melissa in person, but I considered her a colleague, a fellow writer and an online friend. I will truly miss her. She kept a blog about being a mom, and wrote some beautiful posts about her family and children. Her blog is called Wading Through Motherhood, and I hope you will check it out. I made this post in her honor, and there are some ideas in here about how you can spread kindness and help celebrate World Kindness Day.