#OutandAboutAva/Family Fun

Family Friendly events with my daughter

Top 5 #WellieWishers Gifts ~ A Gift Guide for your @American_Girl & her Doll !

Leave a comment

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by American Girl. I received product to review, however all opinions are my own.

When #outandaboutAva turned 5, she received her first ever American Girl doll from her 2 great-Aunts as a birthday present.  When she opened up her gift, to her surprise, she got her very own Kendall Doll from the all-new WellieWishers! What made this doll special was that not only did she see “a doll that looks like me ” but it also represented her being old enough to have a new big girl doll friend. 

The WellieWishers made their American Girl debut end of June 2016 and were created for girls age 5-7. These adorable 5 friends are all about helping kindness & friendship bloom. If you plan on getting your girl this doll or she already has one, you will love this gift guide!  I was excited to put this gift guide together for anyone who has a Wellie Wishers gift list. Whether you’re willing to splurge or on a budget, there is something here for your American Girl and her doll! 

Here are my recommendations..My Holiday Top 5 Wellie Wishers Gift Guide for your American Girl and her doll !

  1. Make -It-Great Play Set : This is perfect for the Kendall Doll because she likes to craft her world with creativity and kindness. My daughter had fun putting her Kendall doll to work fixing repairs around the house.
  2.  Magic Theater Play Tent : This tent is the perfect play space for a child, her friends and their dolls to hideaway for giggles & girltime. It’s designed to look like the WellieWishers playhouse and has sweet little details like a tiled roof, cut out windows with real curtains and Garden Rules to follow!
  3. The Riddle of the Robin : I love to give the gift of knowledge and books are perfect for readers young & old. This paperback book is 96 pages of fun and opens your childs’ eyes to the world of WellieWishers.
  4. Tea for Two Party Set : Make tea time fun for your little one with this play set which is sized for the Wellie Wisher doll. Comes complete with little napkins, tea cups, forks, spoons and more! It makes the perfect stocking stuffer gift. 
  5. Flutter Wings Doll Carrier : Because we are often on the go enjoying family fun with our #outandaboutAva , this backpack for her doll was a must ! If your little one likes to take her doll along for adventures, this is the ultimate gift. Not only does the WellieWishers doll have its own space to fit in but there is a zippered pocket big enough to fit toys, books, clothes, accessories and more ! My daughter said it was comfortable to wear and plans to take her Kendall Doll everywhere!

Now that the holiday season is under way, I hope you find this guide useful for the little girl who loves to use her imagination at play. American Girl is all about connecting girls to a joyful world. Be sure to follow @agwelliewishers on Instagram and get ready to shop online this Cyber Monday at americangirl.com. Don’t forget if you are near the Raleigh area, visit American Girl at Crabtree Valley Mall to shop for these favorites  and discover all the fun! 

Which items do you plan to gift for your American Girl ?

Happy Shopping !

*My blog may contain links to other websites.  Any affiliate links are not to be associated with AmericanGirl.com.  I am not responsible for the privacy policies of other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.

    Image

    #Raleigh ,Celebrate the Holidays @NCSymphony ~A Kids’ Christmas Review & pre-Black Friday Sale

    Leave a comment

    Thanksgiving is the beginining of the holiday season, so what better way to kick it off then by joining the North Carolina Symphony ! 

    Today #outandaboutAva and I joined other kids and their familes for A Kid’s Christmas… a one-hour singing and dancing celebration held at the beautiful Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh. Although the show started at 3pm , guests were encouraged to arrive early to meet the Snow Princesses and Santa! We also paid a visit to the popular Instrument Zoo located in the lobby and got a chance to try out orchestral instruments. Check it out..

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BNKlB45DXGw/
    A Kids’ Christmas featured music we all could enjoy from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frozen, The Polar Express and so much more ! It was so cute to see kids dressed in their jammies and/or their favorite Frozen character while singing along. The Triangle Youth Ballet was there to perform as well as the Raleigh Boy Choir, making this a very special event! Bravo to conductor David Glover and the NC Symphony as well for their wonderful performance. 

    If you are looking for something to do this weekend with your family, join your North Carolina Symphony for Thanksgiving Holiday Pops Weekend, where Santa will also be in the libby before the concert.

     Savvy Tip: Now until 11:59pm tonight , save 50% on Holiday Concerts using Promo Code: PBF17 ..stay tuned for more discounts on Black Friday & Cyber Monday ! Purchase tickets here

    In the true giving spirit of the holidays, NC Symphony is also collecting “Soup-to-Go” to help feed 1000 local kids at risk of hunger in the Triangle during any of the performances at Raleigh’s Meymandi Concert Hall. You can also take your donation in person to the North Carolina Symphony State Headquarters. For more information , call 919.733.2750

    Here are some pictures from today’s special event. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving !

    #OutandAboutAva Explores, Rescues, Protects and Reviews #OctonautsLive @DPAC ~Recap by #SobeSavvy .com

    Leave a comment

    Calling all Cadets! The Octonauts crew has something exciting for you at their brand new Octonauts Live! show.  #OutandAboutAva and I just saw the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure at DPAC and had loads of family fun watching the Octonauts come to life on stage. This high-tech production featured costume characters and animated projections to a massive screen on stage. The audience was filled with kids and families who enjoyed the opportunity to be apart of the action by joining the Octo-Cadets! 

    DPAC packed the house on November 11 with fans to see this popular children’s show. The tour comes on the heels of new Octonauts episodes premiering throughout the year on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Seasons one, two and three are also available on Netflix, and the first ever Octonauts 4D movie adventure is coming later this year. But just in case you do not know the Octonauts, they are a very dynamic team of heroes who go on a fast-paced, exciting underwater adventure. Their mission: to explore new underwater worlds, rescue amazing sea creatures and protect the ocean. The group is led by Captain Barnacles the bear, and also includes Kwazii the kitten, Peso the penguin, Dr. Shellington the sea otter, Dashi the dog, Tweak the bunny, Professor Inkling the octopus and Tunip the `vegimal’ (part vegetable, part animal). 

    This stage show features sing-a-longs and alot of interactivity with the characters on stage. It was also educational as I learned alot about the ocean. Did you know it had layers like a cake? There’s 3 total: sunlight, twilight and moonlight before hitting the bottom of the ocean floor. Here is more of what you can expect to see at Octonauts Live! https://youtu.be/Bb1Nns8yKMg

    Following the show, we attended the Octopod Explorer Party, which I talked about here in my prior post about Octonauts Live. It truly enhanced our Octonauts experience and I recommend upgrading your ticket for the following perks:

    Deep Sea Adventure & #FamilyFun Awaits @DPAC #OctonautsLive Nov 11,6pm #Durham #NC @Octonauts

    5 Comments

    Durham, NC get ready to Explore. Rescue. Protect! with Octonauts Live! at DPAC November 11 @6pm.

    “Octonauts” has a brand new, action-packed and interactive theatre show for the very first time in the U.S ! The Octonauts and the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure features brand new and fan favorite songs led by the entire Octonauts eight-member crew including Captain Barnacles, Lieutenant Kwazii and Medic Peso, as they invite audiences aboard an underwater quest through a world full of adventure, interactivity, and tons of sea life surprises! I am looking forward to having family fun and seeing this show with #OutandAboutAva, as this is one of her favorite shows on Disney Jr. !

    The Octonauts live show, produced by Red Light Management & Fiery Light, in association with Silvergate Media, consists of two acts each running about 30 minutes, plus a brief intermission. For more information, visit www.octonautsliveus.com,www.facebook.com/octonautslive or search on social media using #octonautslive.

    Savvy Tip: Octonaut Party Explorer Upgrades are now available to all current ticket holders looking to enhance their Octonauts experience. Upgrades include a Meet & Greet / Photo opportunity with Captain Barnacles and Tweak,an interactive Octopod photo booth, activities and games, an exclusive Octonaut Explorer party gift, early venue entry with crowd-free merchandise shopping, and an on-site exploration guide. Upgrade your tickets now: http://www.cidentertainment.com/events/octonauts-tour-2016/

    Starting in San Diego on September 22, this tour will head coast-to-coast visiting more than 60 cities this fall. Here is a look at their remaining tour schedule :

    November 11 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
    November 12 Baltimore, MD Hippodrome Theatre
    November 13 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
    November 15 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall Theatre
    November 16 Wilkes Barre, PA Kirby Center
    November 18 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
    November 19 Morristown, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center
    November 20 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
    November 22 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center
    November 23 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
    November 25 Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre
    November 26 Brookville, NY Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
    November 27 Richmond, VA Carpenter Center
    November 29 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
    November 30 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
    December 1 Ft. Myers, FL Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
    December 2 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
    December 3 Orlando, FL Dr. Phillips Center
    December 4 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach

    #OddSquadLive goes on a mission @DPAC @OddSquadPBS @PBSKids #familyfun #Durham #NC

    Leave a comment


    On Saturday November 5th, I joined in on some spy fun with my little one to see Odd Squad Live! , an interactive live show based on the popular PBS KIDS program Odd Squad. My 5 year old daughter and her 10 year old cousin were super excited to go on this spy adventure along with many other kids in the Triangle who headed out to the DPAC for some family fun !  

    Under the supervision of their favorite agents, the audience got to put their skills to the test to decode the strange and odd occurrences happening. Through digital audience participation, we turned into junior agents and got to interact with the Odd Squad in real time to work together on the very special mission delivered by Miss O to solve an exciting mystery! How cool!

    In Odd Squad Live! you got the same weirdness that you get from the tv show, which won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Series” but with a twist: The kid agents were turned into adults and it was up to the children in the audience to turn them back! For the live show you can expect singing, dancing, laughing and of course oddness while building math, problem-solving and collaboration skills.

    Whether you are a fan of the show or not, you will be entertained during the 90 mins (plus intermission) by the new gadgets, funny villians, and catchy hit songs from the Odd Squad favorite band, Soundcheck !  For more information please go to  OddSquadLive.com , PBS KIDS Website: http://pbskids.org/oddsquad/

    1 head plus 2 bodies…Now that’s ODD! 

    Be sure to check out what is coming next to the Durham Performing Arts Center at www.DPACnc.com. 

    #Raleigh celebrates #Halloween with @NCSymphony The Music of #StarWars Young People’s Concert 

    Leave a comment

    7036-ypc-star-wars-666x216-decpa

    This beautiful fall afternoon my family and I went to Meymandi Concert Hall for a very special kids event: The North Carolina Symphony Young People’s Comcert The Music Of Star Wars. The iconic movie soundtrack that has now been around for 2 generations was the centerpiece of an afternoon of kid centric fun just in time for this Halloween weekend in Raleigh, NC !

    The NCS Kids Young People’s Concerts are perfect for families and children ages 4-12 and a great introduction to the world of music. Each performance features fun, interactive activities related to the concert’s theme, beginning in Meymandi Concert Hall’s Swalin Lobby one hour before the concert. Here is a video of what to expect:

    This performance was the first one in the 3 part Young People’s Concert Series for the 2016/17 season and because it was Star Wars themed guests got to take pictures with their favorite costumed Star Wars characters from the all-volunteer 501st Legion!
    Make sure to arrive early for all the pre-concert activities, including face painting and our popular Instrument Zoo!

    So get dressed up as your favorite Star Wars characters and join in the fun ! Get your tickets to 4pm Raleigh show today or tomorrow’s performance in Wilmington here !

    Savvy Tip : See all 3 Young People’s concerts for just $49 when you buy a package ..or 2 concert series for just $30 at ncsymphony.org !

    May the Force be with you !

    #TastyThursday spotlight on @ZoesKitchen new Kids Menu and more ! #LiveMediterranean 

    Leave a comment

    Here’s a common dilemma. You’re out and about, hungry and want something for your little one {and yourselves} that does not come in a greasy bag and require waiting in your car talking to a speaker. What to do, where to go ? What if I told you about this place where the food is made fresh in a stylish attractive setting at a even more attractive price ? THAT place is  Zoës Kitchen.

    As soon as you walk into this bright, casual dining restaurant, you get a sense that your tastesbuds are in for a treat! Their motto: Tasty, Fresh and Original recipes is something that is very appealing to my family. And if you are really in a hurry, you can call ahead and take your meal to go!

    *Here is the number for the North Hills location in Raleigh, NC

    Zoës Kitchen recently expanded their kids menu to offer even more wholesome and diverse options and treated SobeSavvy.com to try these with young foodie #OutandAboutAva who happens to love mediterranean food just as much as we do!  Born in Generation Z, she has always been open-minded about trying different foods and very vocal about the things she does not like. What’s cool about their kids meal is that children can customize it! Here’s what they have to choose from:

    img_4991

    My girl decided on the kid sized Shrimp Kabob. Shrimp is her absolute favorite. Sides include hummus, Greek salad, roasted vegetables, pesto farro or fresh fruit! 

    shrimp1

    img_4976House made Greek Dressing.

    img_5017  My little one and I shared a cup of their delicious lentil soup. It is made from scratch daily and is soooooo good. 

    No meal is complete without dessert right? As a member of the clean plate society, she received an award: Zoës Kitchen house baked chocolate chip cookie. It was big enough for all 3 of us to share!

    A big cookie gets a big smile !

    Here is a slideshow of photos showing more of why Zoës Kitchen is a simple, tasty, and fresh choice for your entire family. Enjoy! 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BMEfYEkAPpi/
    Savvy Tip: Download their ZK app for Android or Apple so you can order online,access their nutrition calculator and keep track of your Zoës Kitchen rewards here !

    #Raleigh Rejoice! @American_Girl Store Opens Oct 1 @shopCrabTree ~ Soft Opening Preview Recap

    Leave a comment

    AMERICAN GIRL opens a temporary store at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, October 1 just in time for the holidays. Excited American Girl fans of all ages and their dolls should definitely make plans to attend this grand opening weekend ! 
    Here are the details :

    WHEN Saturday, October 1  10 am – 9 pm Sunday, October 2   12 pm – 7 pm

    WHERE American Girl Store, Crabtree Valley Mall  *closest mall entrance to American Girl is Sears and the parking Blue Deck.

    WHAT During the grand opening celebration, girls will receive a free gift and craft while supplies last, and can enter to win Lea, American Girl’s 2016 Girl of the Year. Mall doors open two hours prior to regular business hours. Entrance Tickets are required and will be distributed one hour before store opening.

    My daughter, fondly referred to on the blog as #OutandAboutAva, and I were excited to be invited to Friday’s soft opening and tour. Here is what we saw during our preview of the store : 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BLAPdKwDB9J/
    To learn more about American Girl or request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit http://www.americangirl.com, http://www.facebook.com/americangirl, or www.twitter.com/american_girl.
    Be sure to make your way before the holidays to this family favorite store and see why parents, educators and girls love American Girl ! Expect to see plenty of the popular American Girl dolls , books, accessories and the signature Doll Hair Salon at the new pop up store in Crabtree Valley Mall. 

    To see more pictures of the new store, see here.
    .

    #TravelTuesday Where to Go: @BaltimoreMD – My 5 Fave #InnerHarbor Spots #FamilyTravel

    2 Comments

    Baltimore is one of our favorite cities to visit as a family.

    Why ?

    It’s a great place that ends up pleasing almost everyone who has ever visited there. Waterfront fun, world class restaurants and attractions play a big part in it’s charm

    Our recent visit centered around the Inner Harbor and all it has to offer.

    Baltimore‘s Inner Harbor

    Here are my 5 favorite places to stay~eat~play with my family while visiting downtown Baltimore: 

    Hyatt Place Baltimore Inner Harbor East 

    The Hyatt Place Hotel was our base camp for our stay. Located in the trendy Harbor East area, Hyatt Place is situated perfectly to access all the Inner Harbor has to offer. Superb bedding, modern and chic style are everywhere, but it is their superior customer service and local knowledge that sets them apart from other choices. Their breakfast is awesome and they have a great room service menu to boot!

    To see a more in depth hotel review, read here.

    National Aquarium

    My little one LOVES fish and all things in the ocean so The National Aquarium was a easy choice.

    Within walking distance from Hyatt Place you will find one of the world’s greatest aquariums. Opened in 1981, this structure houses an impressive array of fish, shark and coral reef species. It’s open design allowed us to view all sorts of sea animals while at different levels of the building. Rays and sharks. Jellyfish and giant groupers. My daughter just LOVED the Dolphin tank. They have many interactive kid sized exhbits. She even put on a puppet show ! Most of their viewing windows are low enough for her to see at eye level. The rain forest was simply amazing. I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say keep looking carefully in the trees and you will be surprised

    Phillips Seafood

    Blue Crabs are THE quintessential Baltimore summer food so what better place to go then Phillips Seafood Restaurant.

    Walking distance from the Aquarium sits world renowned Phillips. They have an over water crab deck open for diners in the summer, so we indulged in crabs and shrimp right over the water. My daughter loved seeing the ducks swim by to say hello. Their kids menu is much more varied than most places. They had everything from grilled salmon to clam strips. Stellar service matched the laid back cuisine.It lived up to it’s iconic reputation.

    We recently did a “Tasty Thursday” feature of this restaurant , as seen here. Check out this photo slideshow of some of the deliciousness we enjoyed on the crab deck at Phillips Seafood Baltimore!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BJSvn8ODcEz/

    Baltimore Water Taxi

    We also wanted to get ON the water and there’s no better way than to buy a daily ticket on The Water Taxi. For just $14 you have on and off rights all day long. The Water Taxi stops at various popular destinations throughout the Inner Harbor area. We embarked at Fells Point and went on a short cruise to Fort Mchenry.

    *Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine 

    Fort Mchenry was the decisive battle that decided the War Of 1812. That battle inspired our national anthem. We toured the grounds and the cannons. You could still feel the weight of history here. We also witnessed some folks in historic dress telling visitors about the rich history of the Fort.

    We caught the Water Taxi back to Fells Point to transfer on another boat. The warm breeze on the ride was a welcome relief from the summer heat ! Next stop was for Harborplace on the west side of the harbor. Besides being a major restaurant and shopping destination, Harborplace also has some entertaining attractions.

    Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baltimore

    Located in the HarborPlace, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium Baltimore was a fun and fascinating entertainment spot. It is Filled with artifacts and interactive exhibits. My little one spent extra time in their kaleidescope dancing mirror area ! Hubby tried to measure up to tthe world’s tallest man !

    After some window shopping off we went again on the Water Taxi back to Fells Point. An easy walk back from there back to the Hyatt Place for some well needed rest. Baltimore is a great place with so much to do. Until next time

    Go to Baltimore.org and discover more about the exciting things you can only see and experience in “Charm City”. We love the Inner Harbor and hope you get a chance to visit some of our faves !

    BTW…Baltimore has had a rough last year and seems to be bouncing back . This T-Shirt just exemplifies how I feel about this port City. Hope you feel the same way too https://www.amazon.com/Idakoos-Baltimore-Cities-Sleeve-T-Shirt/dp/B01KOUL45U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1471824436&sr=8-2&keywords=keep+calm+and+love+baltimore

    #FashionFriday, #Twinning with #outandaboutAva in #LulaRoe #MommyandMe #Leggings

    5 Comments

    Leggings are a staple in my wardrobe. Whether I am in a pair during my #GetLovelyFit yoga practice or out and about with my daughter Ava, I enjoy wearing them. That’s why when Kim Breton, a LulaRoe Fashion Consultant , asked me if I would be interested in trying a pair of LulaRoe leggings, I said YES! I heard about the fashion brand and the comfort of their clothing and could not wait to see for myself.

    Not only was I going to be able to get leggings for myself but also for my now 5 yr old daughter as LulaRoe offers “Mommy and Me” fashions! The leggings came in the mail in a pretty pink package and was addressed to my daughter. She really got a kick out of that! There was also a handwritten note inside wishing her a happy birthday. I was impressed by the customer service and thoughtfulness of Kim.

    Purple is one of our favorite colors, so we chose one of the solid mommy and me sets in lilac/heathered purple. There are many beautiful colors to choose from and I am very excited to try other pieces! LulaRoe leggings are such a stylish staple and as the motto says “Simply Comfortable”. The one size leggings (00-10/12) were a great fit. I liked how super soft they felt and the stretchiness of the fabric. I decided to pair it with a denim shirt and gold flats for both her/I…..and Voila …we were twinning! Here are some pictures from our “Casual Cute PhotoShoot”. Enjoy!