My daughter and I shopped along Madison Avenue enjoying all the Christmas window decorations. We visited FAO Schwarz toy store and tried to get into the American Girl store, but the line was too long.  Whether you’re a kid, a kid at heart, or even a grandparent, it’s fun to visit  FAO Schwarz or American Girl toy stores! We also shopped till we dropped at Saks, Bloomingdales, Godiva, Gap, and Loft.  We also visited at Trump Tower,  Tiffany, St. Patrick’s Cathedral,  and got some roasted chestnuts for Christmas at the food street vendors!

Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards for photos of other inspiring decorating ideas for the Christmas season and the holidays.

Christmas Decorations in New York

 

Tiffany New York Christmas Window Decorations

Tiffanys New York Christmas Tree

Godiva Chocolate New York Christmas Tree

Gap New York City Christmas Tree

Trump Tower New York City Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Center New York City Christmas Tree

Radio City New York Christmas Tree

Be sure to check out my other Pinterest posts for the holidays!

Some of the Pinterest boards I have created are:

• Gifts for Kids and Grandkids
• Travel Desires
• Favorite Places-Local
• Simply Connecticut
• Food – Comfort
• Food – Sweet Desires
• Garden Parties
• Dreaming of a White Christmas
• By the Beautiful Sea
• Small Spaces Oasis
• For the Home
• Words to Make You Giggle
• Inspiring Words of Wisdom
• Coops
• Photography

Follow Me at Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cindi_moomettes/

Pinterest is by invitation only, so if you’re wondering “What is Pinterest” and you’d like an invitation to Pinterest let me know in a comment here!

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Scion from the original historic Charter Oak tree planted in 1871 by the Governor’s Foot Guard in Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut.

Cindi – Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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CBS Local Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011 Lifestyle

It’s especially exciting to be recognized locally in Connecticut as well as the New England media market areas.

Although many of you are my friends from throughout the United States and internationally, you know that I try to share a part of my life with you in special travel and photography sections on how important New England, and Connecticut in particular is to me.  There you will always find fun things to do in Connecticut!

 Please VOTE

You can help me with this coveted award and distinction by Voting once every day now through Sept. 9th!

Just click the banner or VOTE for Moomettes Magnificents HERE!

Many of my friends were nominated in various categories in Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Miami, and points beyond. Let me know if I can vote for YOU!

Thanks!

© 2011 Moomettes Magnificents

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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During the Summer and Fall seasons here in New England it’s always a treat to shop at the local family-owned vegetable farm produce stands.

Fresh sweet corn season won’t be around too much longer!

To keep the economy going I like to support homegrown businesses in my area.

Many of the stands even have printouts of their favorite recipes for you to take home to try!

This is the Eddy Family farm stand in Newington, CT.

If you also have a Wordless Wednesday, please sign the Linky!

© 2011 Moomettes Magnificents

Cindi – Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Productivity Tools

Although I have an Acer Netbook, I don’t always take it with me or am near a wi-fi spot. The iPhone will give me much more flexibility to stay on top of my blogging while information is fresh in my mind, or important to pass on to readers in a timely manner.

There’s going to be a learning curve involved as I try to upload photos and not make any typos (please excuse typos.)

Another of my favorite applications that I just added is the StumbleUpon app from iTunes. Now I can Stumble my favorite websites and posts while I’m in waiting at the doctor’s office, or getting my car serviced!

Stay tuned for further updates about some of the best free apps and subscribe in a reader or my email Newsletter!

© 2011 Moomettes Magnificents

Photo Credit:  Creative Crass

Cindi – Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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The organization, which creates one-to-one connections through child sponsorships, is rolling out a Facebook promotion called “The Experience of a Lifetime.” The promotion, which runs from May 31 to June 30, offers a unique opportunity for one lucky winner to travel across the world to meet his or her sponsored child.

If the promotion winner does not sponsor a child, he or she will win a paid, four-day escorted tour (including all travel, means and accommodations) to a ChildFund program in Asia, Africa or the Americas.

“We love sharing children’s photos, videos and stories on Facebook, but we know there’s nothing that moves you more than seeing the real thing,” said Anne Lynam Goddard, ChildFund president and CEO. “With just a few clicks on Facebook, one person will be rewarded with the experience of a lifetime.”

To enter the promotion, Facebook participants must:

• Go to www.Facebook.com/ChildFundInternational and “Like” the page,
• Choose to enter the promotion using the “ChildFund Experience” app,
• Ask 10 friends to “Like” ChildFund on Facebook and nominate their profile to win.
• Be at least18 and a U.S. resident (lower 48 states).

For every friend nomination over 10, the participant will receive one
additional entry into the promotion.

Five finalists will be randomly selected in early July. Each finalist will be required to write a short statement as to why he or she should win the trip. Their statements will then be featured on ChildFund’s Facebook page, and fans will be asked to decide the winner by popular vote.

# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ChildFund International is a global child development and protection agency
serving more than 15.2 million children and their family members in 31 countries.

For more than 70 years, we have helped the world’s deprived, excluded and vulnerable children survive and thrive to reach their full potential and become leaders of enduring change. As a member of ChildFund Alliance we create supportive environments in which children can flourish. To sponsor a child in need, visit the ChildFund website.

Contact: Cynthia Price, 804-756-2722

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Summer Volunteer Programs

I’ve written previously of the benefits of vacationing and traveling solo. Another interesting concept is you’ll find that many people are now opting to take a work “volunteer vacation.”

What Are Volunteer Vacations?

The gist of a volunteer vacation is that you get to pay for taking one, while at the same time you’ll be working. Are you confused? You’re probably asking yourself, why work during your much-needed travel vacation? Read on!

Working vacations are referred to as “Voluntourism,” which is a way to help people who are less fortunate than you are. You can travel to tornado and flood affected areas in the United States, tsunami stricken regions in Asia, earthquake areas in Italy to help rebuild homes. You can travel to Third World areas perhaps help to teach English, because you can.

Voluntary vacations provide no monetary gains, but allow you to contribute positively to humanity. Your wise investments over the years have allowed you to retire and kick back, enjoy peaceful days while smelling the roses. Because you’ve been working more than half your life, after awhile you’ll be bored beyond belief and your body and mind aren’t used to all this activity.

Once in awhile use your travel money that’s been set aside to go on a Volunteer Vacation. While taking in the sites at exotic travel destinations such as Rio, London, Paris or Lake Lucerne in Switzerland are great ideas, but if you’re looking for a more fulfilling meaning in life, try spending your next holiday fixing up homes devastated by hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Yes, you’re spending thousands of hard-earned dollars while volunteering in a short window of time and may ask how are you really helping. You may question whether donating an equal sum of money would be more beneficial rather than spending it on travel costs, food, lodging, airfare and personal item incidentals. It’s a fair question – that money can go far in paying skilled people such as teachers, tradesmen and carpenters.

You are correct in your assertion – the money you spend on your humanitarian volunteer vacation might actually feed an entire families in the poorest of countries. How frequently do you donate to these charities? Do you think you’d donate again? Maybe yes, maybe no. But once you actually experience the satisfaction in personally helping others, your views will change. Chances are good that you’ll probably become a regular vacation-volunteer as well as an advocate for charitable voluntourism. At a minimum, you will most likely continue to support your favorite charities through regular monetary contributions.

Are you convinced yet?

Tips to help you get involved with volunteer vacation organizers

To get started, do your research as if you were planning a typical vacation: How much a volunteer vacation will cost; what the accommodations will be like and; what else is included or not. It goes without saying that not only will you be working, you’ll also be shouldering all the expenses.

Question how much the organization will take as a cut for coordinating your trip and what proportion will be designated toward the project they’re hosting. Also, make certain that the project is established and has a good reputation that will likely be continued.

Interested?

Visit: Voluntourism.org

Bon Voyage!

Photo Credit: Stockxpert: vicnt

Republished from TypeAMom.com, Cindi Matthews, Editor, 50-Something Moms

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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Copyright C. Matthews 2008

Photo of the Bluffs at Lake Keuka, New York State Finger Lakes Wine Trail
© 2008 C. Matthews

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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If you’re looking for an educational event and family fun, take the kids, along with Grandmom and Grandpa to visit the Connecticut Trolley Museum, located in East Windsor, Connecticut. Open all year long, the museum is located on 17 acres, where visitors can enjoy round-trip 3 mile long trolley tours while listening to an educational narrative.  The Connecticut attraction, staffed by volunteers, owns over 70 pieces of rail equipment owned by the museum, some of them dating as far back as 1869.

Kid Friendly Winterfest

Start a family tradition this Holiday Season by visiting the museum during it’s 3rd Annual Winterfest where you can ride the Connecticut Trolley Museum’s rails and sing-along in both the electric sleigh and heated closed cars through the “Tunnel of Lights.”

The kids can join motormen in singing traditional Christmas carols while admiring the hundreds of lights overhead.

Winterfest 2010 will continue to run through December 26-30 (Sunday-Thursday), from 5 pm – 9 pm.

After a 1-1/2 mile journey along the rails, everyone will return to the Visitor Center where you can visit the old-time Gift Shop and warm up with steaming cups of hot cocoa and coffee along with popcorn!  You can listen to the live entertainment taking place on the caboose of a vintage trolley!

…. Clang, Clang Clang Goes the Trolley; Ding Ding Ding Goes the Bell …

On a very cold evening here in New England, my husband and I, along with my daughter, charming son-in-law and the grandkids enjoyed all sights and sounds that Winterfest had to offer at the CT Trolley Museum.

Admission included a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the grand-kids left with smiles on their faces along with a small token gift after being asked if they had been “naughty or nice” this year, and a gentle reminder asking them to be good!

Slugger, my 2-year old grandson, is absolutely fascinated with trains this year, and was mesmerized by the vintage Lionel die cast train village displays.

Non-Profit Trolley Preservation

The historical town I live in used to have trolley tracks before the roads were repaved and the tracks covered over with asphalt.
I can remember seeing those tracks as a child, as well as driving past the museum in the late 1950s and 1960s on the way to visit my cousins who lived in Enfield.  At the time,  the trolley museum consisted of a gift shop and several vintage trains.

I interviewed Carol Zenczak, Manager of the Connecticut Trolley Museum, who indicated that the museum was founded in October 1940.  It is the nation’s oldest incorporated organization dedicated to the preservation of the trolley era,  staffed by one paid employee, and the generosity of several volunteer trolley preservation enthusiasts.

Special Event Theme  Days offered include:

• Winterfest
• Easter Bunny Day
• Pumpkin Patch
• Rails to the Dark Side
• Train Operations Day (NEW in 2011)

Open to groups and parties, school field trips

For Further Info visit: Connecticut Trolley Museum

On FacebooK: Trolley Museum

I was provided with a Press Pass and Press Kit.  Opinions are my own.

Do you have a family and kid-friendly attraction, lodging, restaurant or event that you would like me to visit, write about and feature? To forward information and passes please Contact Me

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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If you’re looking for a fun family Holiday daytrip that the kids will enjoy, visit Santa’s Workshop at Wickham Park Manchester, Connecticut.

Children get to visit Santa and find it so magical there, and and it’s my most favorite place to visit too!  It’s not commercialized, like the shopping malls.  The park, high up on a hill overlooking Hartford,  is beautiful in winter – all decked out with colored lights, and we went when the sun was starting to set!

Santa’s helpers, the elves were there, along with train sets, a roaring fire in the fieldstone fireplace; Mrs. Claus was passing out cookies, and there was a huge Christmas tree that reached the top of the cathedral ceiling in the log cabin house!

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

For More Information Visit: Wickham Park

Unique Christmas Decorations in New York | New York Christmas Trees | A Pinterest Christmas is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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