Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Tribery brings families together, even when apart

Tribery is a mobile app that allows families to send monthly printed family journals to their loved ones.

This is not your typical photo album app. You, the user, subscribes to the service which will send an album to your loved ones, near or far (not to yourself) each month!

Easy steps to accessing Tribery:
1) Download the app and invite your spouse (or just do it yourself) to upload pictures & write captions
2) Upload pictures and add captions to explain or add context
3) Tribery prints out the journal and ships it to a chosen loved one directly at the end of each month

Your loved ones will love receiving monthly journals! It’s an opportunity for them to see what is going on in your life, share the album with their friends or use it to communicate and ask questions.

I love that Tribery is collaborative. My husband logged in on his phone and uploaded some of his favorite pictures in addition to the ones I had already chosen from the month to include in the journal. The journal is about telling the story about what happened during the month, so adding captions helps to tell the story of the picture.

Use code: ALLISON123 and get your first printed journal FOR FREE!

Device-free road trip essentials for families

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and typically people hit the road for the holiday. This year being no exception as families may not be comfortable flying and many more will be on the road. We were eager to find some ways to occupy our kids in the car {as we plan our longest road trip yet} that invites them to put down a device for part of the trip.

Travel games:
Scavenger hunt
License plate BINGO
Magnetic puzzles
Guess Who card game
Road trip BINGO
Guess in 10
STEM cube
20 Q electronic game
Fidgets
Sensory toys

Crafts:
Dry erase travel board
Wiki sticks
Vacation activity kit
No-mess glitter dot
Travel pad with a variety of games
Mess-free coloring
Travel journal

Listen to family-friendly Podcasts and books on tape through Audible. I like to pop in my AirPods and listen to a book on tape on car rides– a bit of silence! Also, subscribe to Pinna for children’s audiobooks, music, podcasts and more!

No need for anything–play old school games: I-Spy, 20 questions, Play the license plate game aloud, “I’m going on a trip/picnic and bringing…”, The alphabet game, Who am I? & Round-robin story telling are a few. Just google the names of them to get a refresher on the rules.

Rest stop games: Bring a ball to kick around, throw a jump rope in the car, play Simon Says and try to challenge Simon to be active.

Create a playlist and have a sing-along. You can print some lyrics for kids who can read and they can sing the words.

Give your kids a camera to document their trip. Be sure to stock up on film. This also comes with a photo album they can just put the pictures right into and keep organized on the trip.

Helpful to have:
Car seat lap activity tray
Fill up this container with snacks
Kids travel pillow
Kids headphones that connect to each other
Travel Jane disposable urinal
Portable potty
Wet wipes
Organizer, Cooler & Tray in 1
UV Window shade

Related posts:
8 games to play in the pool + water play must haves!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that should you click any of the links and make a purchase I may get a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. 

Holiday gift guide for kids

Last year’s guide has some amazing gifts so we only added a few additions this year and are also including the 2020 guide below! Happy gifting!!

Games:
It’s in the Bag family game

4 player chess fidget board

Spikeball

Osmo Math Wizard & the Magical Workshop

Art:
Boogie Board

Drawing projector

Marbling paint art kit

Toys:
Barbie Dreamhouse

Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage

2021 Get ’em while they’re in stock:


WowWee Got2Glow Fairy Finder

Mini brands

Tamagotchi Pix

The Questioneers book collection

Moji the interactive labradoodle

4G Kids Smartwatch

Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Motor Strike Battle Set

Magic Mixies

2020 Guide:
We hope you find this gift guide helpful as we have highlighted items that will entertain your children through the winter as we prepare to spend more time indoors as well as some gifts for your home (or others). Check out these stocking stuffers under $10 and an older stocking stuffer guide under $13— win/win, who says you can just give these as gifts!

For your home:

This steam mop is my favorite purchase during quarantine. Easy to use, I have now put my kids in charge of cleaning the floors! It eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam. I add essential oils to bring an inviting smell in, a bit of olive oil and sometimes a light cleaning product from Branch Basics into my water.

Solo Stove has allowed us to be outside on cool nights! It comes in various sizes and is smokeless (if you have dry firewood). Don’t forget marshmallow and hot dog skewers for the bonfire.

A lot of our friends have stepped up their outdoor spaces with a projector and screen so they can show movies outside alongside their bonfire and/or heat lamp. Whatever allows us to get out of our house in 2020, right?

Seriously don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. The iRobot Roomba is a vacuum that intelligently maps & cleans an entire level of your home- set it and go! A cheaper option is the Eufy which also cleans hardwood and carpet.

Instant Pot is worth the hype and comes in various sizes. I just wish I had a cabinet it could be stored in.

Our air purifier is a 3-part filtration system that captures 99% of common airborne pm 2.5 pollutants such as allergens, odors, smoke, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander.

Add some green to your home and add a snake plant or palm. We have gifted this succulent subscription box to a friend and they delivered gorgeous succulents.

Get active and outside:

My kids are begging for rollerblades or rollerskates and I’m not opposed.

Socker boppers are another fun way for kids to get out some energy with theses inflatable boppers which can used in a variety of ways.

Another item on my kids list this year is a hoverboard. Perhaps it’s due to the marathon we just had watching Back to the Future.

Micro scooters are great– they come in a variety of sizes and styles and my kids have loved each one they’ve had. The mini-deluxe is perfect for ages 2-5 and the maxi deluxe is the next scooter for ages 5-12 while this micro is great for the older kids who have better balance.

If you have space outside a ninja obstacle course is a great way to get your kids outdoors and burning energy.

Balance stepping stones are great for smaller kids to set up in the yard while developing balance, collaboration and concentration skills

Dueling stomp rocket allows two friends to stomp rockets as high as they can into the sky.

Arts and crafts:

This playhouse allows kids to doodle & decorate a cardboard castle and other designs. A perfect indoor activity that will provide plenty of fun for winter.

Don’t let the word painting steer you away from this. My six year old received this for her birthday and in one day created all of the 12 designs– she LOVED it and it is an activity that allowed her to be completely independent while creating. Grab this big gem diamond painting!

3-D printing pen is the first in a 3D printing device!

Light-up tracing pad is a favorite in our house. It has a variety of designs featuring 1 graphite pencil, 12 short colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets, 10 blank sheets, and 1 graphite pencil.

The art case that comes with everything your budding artist needs and you can keep it all in the carrying case.

Grow n glow terrarium is another favorite in our house. It is an indoor activity for kids that allows them to craft, plant, water and grow your own mini ecosystem. Just add water for a unique science experience!

Aquabeads give your child a chance to place the beads following the template and spray with water to complete! Flip the tray to remove the design, wipe dry and continue creating with Aquabeads!

Build and paint a wooden car (or rescue vehicles) with 42 pre-cut & sanded wooden pieces to make 3 cars, sand paper.

Tech:

Oculus Quest 2 transports your movements directly into VR with intuitive controls. Get the best seat in the house to live concerts, games, groundbreaking films, exclusive events and more.

Echo Dot for kids lets kids ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family. The included year of Amazon Kids+ (FreeTime Unlimited) gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills.

Fuji film instax mini camera + accessories is an awesome gift for kids who enjoy snapping photos. Photos immediately are printed and can be added to the photo albums.

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch is great for kids 4+. They can take photos, learn to tell time and play games on this watch. It comes in a variety of colors.

Powerbeats wireless earphones: Up to 9 hours of listening time with secure ear fit. Apple Airpods Pro are another good option in fact these are my favorite as they are noise reducing and I can pop them in while my kids are doing virtual school if I need to cancel out the noise.

Wireless karaoke microphone is a handheld karaoke microphone which is small in size and easy to hold. Kids can practice and share favorite songs using music apps (YouTube , Pandora, Spotify..)

Osmo starter kit: Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad, bringing a child’s game pieces & actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play).

A bluetooth speaker is great to have when you go outdoors as it is bluetooth compatible. We brought this one along on our beach trips this summer and it worked great. A cheaper option is this Bose one.

Related posts:
Gift guide for kids
Stocking stuffers under $13
Toys & games that are educational
Indoor & outdoor must-haves
Subscription boxes for children

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

DIY Halloween crafts and experiments from Kiwi Co

You’ve seen us post several times about our love for Kiwi Co and the amazing boxes we have ordered. Recently a new theme was added to their selections; cooking! Kids can unlock the science of cooking to help kids gain confidence in the kitchen with family-friendly recipes and hands-on STEAM activities. You can order just one box and see which line you like best or subscribe to receive one each month. Boxes range from exciting STEM crafts to a doodle crate and everything in between. I love saving our Kiwi boxes for rainy or cold days to keep the Bambinos entertained and learning. A few crates my kids have loved are soap making and creating a paint pendulum as well as the Atlas crate where they learned about other cultures. You can save $10 by using this link to place an order.

Count popula craft from Kiwi Co

Check out these fun 15 at-home ideas for making Halloween crafts & experiments. My kids are eager to make the leaky pumpkin and spider launcher. Extend the at-home crafts with these fall ideas too! There are plenty of Halloween

Related post:
Halloween guide
Subscription boxes for children
Fall foliage

Device free road trip activities and games for families

Memorial Day and summer typically mean people hit the road for vacation and this year is no exception as families may not be comfortable flying and many more will be on the road. We were eager to find some ways to occupy our kids in the car {as we plan our longest road trip yet} that invites them to put down a device for part of the trip.

Travel games: Scavenger hunt, License plate BINGO, Road trip BINGO, Guess in 10, STEM cube, 20 Q electronic game, fidgets and sensory toys

Crafts: Dry erase travel board, Wiki sticks, Vacation activity kit, No-mess glitter dot , Travel pad with a variety of games, Mess-free coloring and a Travel journal

Listen to family-friendly Podcasts and books on tape through Audible. I like to pop in my AirPods and listen to a book on tape on car rides– a bit of silence!

No need for anything–play old school games: I-Spy, 20 questions, Play the license plate game aloud, “I’m going on a trip/picnic and bringing…”, The alphabet game, Who am I? & Round-robin story telling are a few. Just google the names of them to get a refresher on the rules.

Rest stop games: Bring a ball to kick around, throw a jump rope in the car, play Simon Says and try to challenge Simon to be active

Create a playlist and have a sing-along. You can print some lyrics for kids who can read and they can sing the words.

Give your kids a camera to document their trip. Be sure to stock up on film. This also comes with a photo album they can just put the pictures right into.

Helpful to have: Car seat lap activity tray, Fill up this container with snacks, Kids travel pillow, Kids headphones that connect to each other, Travel Jane disposable urinal, Portable potty, Wet wipes, Organizer, Cooler & Tray in 1, UV Window shade

Related posts:
8 games to play in the pool + water play must haves!

Disclaimer: This road trip list full of essentials and games and contains affiliate links, which means that should you click any of the links and make a purchase I may get a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. 

5 Plant and Garden Stores in Washington, DC

Photo: Rewild

I have always had a love for gardening but the pandemic has brought to light my obsession of growing indoor plants. Keeping my orchids long after they’ve blossomed and shed that final bloom has paid off. I have found the secret to the exotic plants re-blooming {I’m currently looking at three orchids that have flowered twice since March}. Finding enough but not too much natural light, being careful of your heat sources and understanding how much to water them are a few simple tricks to being successful with your plants.

My next purchase will be a swiss cheese plant, string-of-pearls and a philodendron pink princess! It is not a cheap hobby but one that sure does bring me JOY {and a morsel of healthier air}! I’ve linked 5 of my favorite DC plant stores that not only have amazing plants but also extremely helpful employees that are sure to get you off to a good start whether you already have a green thumb or perhaps aim to have one soon.

Photo: Little Leaf

American Plant: 5258 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816 & 7405 River Road Bethesda, MD 20817

Capital City Hydroponics: 821 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Gingko Gardens: 911 11th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Little Leaf: 1401 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Rewild: 1924 8th St NW Suite #100, Washington, DC 20001 & 3270 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Stocking stuffers {and gifts} under $10

We have gathered small gifts perfect for a stocking or to be wrapped all under $10.00! For other ideas check out the gift ideas on our guide too.

Books:
Would you Rather?
Mad Libs
Paint By Sticker
Almanac 2021
Weird But True

Beauty:
Lip Smacker
Bath Bombs
Scarf Scrunchie
Sleeping Mask

Crafty:
Gel Pens
Rainbow Scratch Art: Bookmarks
Decorate Your Own Water Bottle
Decorate Your Own Box

Technology:
AirPods Case with Keychain
LCD Writing Tablet
PopSockets

Small Toys:
Hatchimals
Little Live Pets Scruff Surprise
Lego DC Batboat
LOL Surprise Boys Arcade
Uno Emoji
Jeopardy Card Game
Construction Toys with Playmat
Puzzles in a Box
Foam Baseballs

Cozy:
Baby Fleece & Sherpa Booties (Similar to the Zutano brand but so much cheaper!)
Cutetitos Fruititos, Surprise Stuffed Animals, Collectible Scented Plush
Everyday Active No-Show
Novelty Food Sock

Last years posts:
Gift Guide for Kids
Memberships & Experiences
Subscription Boxes

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Covid-era gift guide: ideas for crafts, technology, home and outdoors

We hope you find this gift guide helpful as we have highlighted items that will entertain your children through the winter as we prepare to spend more time indoors as well as some gifts for your home (or others). Check out these stocking stuffers, all under $10!

For your home:

This steam mop is my favorite purchase during quarantine. Easy to use, I have now put my kids in charge of cleaning the floors! It eliminates 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with the natural power of steam. I add essential oils to bring an inviting smell in, a bit of olive oil and sometimes a light cleaning product from Branch Basics into my water.

Solo Stove has allowed us to be outside on cool nights! It comes in various sizes and is smokeless (if you have dry firewood). Don’t forget marshmallow and hot dog skewers for the bonfire.

A lot of our friends have stepped up their outdoor spaces with a projector and screen so they can show movies outside alongside their bonfire and/or heat lamp. Whatever allows us to get out of our house in 2020, right?

Seriously don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. The iRobot Roomba is a vacuum that intelligently maps & cleans an entire level of your home- set it and go! A cheaper option is the Eufy which also cleans hardwood and carpet.

Instant Pot is worth the hype and comes in various sizes. I just wish I had a cabinet it could be stored in.

Our air purifier is a 3-part filtration system that captures 99% of common airborne pm 2.5 pollutants such as allergens, odors, smoke, mold spores, dust mites and pet dander.

Add some green to your home and add a snake plant or palm. We have gifted this succulent subscription box to a friend and they delivered gorgeous succulents.

Get active and outside:

My kids are begging for rollerblades or rollerskates and I’m not opposed.

Socker boppers are another fun way for kids to get out some energy with theses inflatable boppers which can used in a variety of ways.

Another item on my kids list this year is a hoverboard. Perhaps it’s due to the marathon we just had watching Back to the Future.

Micro scooters are great– they come in a variety of sizes and styles and my kids have loved each one they’ve had. The mini-deluxe is perfect for ages 2-5 and the maxi deluxe is the next scooter for ages 5-12 while this micro is great for the older kids who have better balance.

If you have space outside a ninja obstacle course is a great way to get your kids outdoors and burning energy.

Balance stepping stones are great for smaller kids to set up in the yard while developing balance, collaboration and concentration skills

Dueling stomp rocket allows two friends to stomp rockets as high as they can into the sky.

Arts and crafts:

This playhouse allows kids to doodle & decorate a cardboard castle and other designs. A perfect indoor activity that will provide plenty of fun for winter.

Don’t let the word painting steer you away from this. My six year old received this for her birthday and in one day created all of the 12 designs– she LOVED it and it is an activity that allowed her to be completely independent while creating. Grab this big gem diamond painting!

3-D printing pen is the first in a 3D printing device!

Light-up tracing pad is a favorite in our house. It has a variety of designs featuring 1 graphite pencil, 12 short colored pencils, 10 tracing sheets, 10 blank sheets, and 1 graphite pencil.

The art case that comes with everything your budding artist needs and you can keep it all in the carrying case.

Grow n glow terrarium is another favorite in our house. It is an indoor activity for kids that allows them to craft, plant, water and grow your own mini ecosystem. Just add water for a unique science experience!

Aquabeads give your child a chance to place the beads following the template and spray with water to complete! Flip the tray to remove the design, wipe dry and continue creating with Aquabeads!

Build and paint a wooden car (or rescue vehicles) with 42 pre-cut & sanded wooden pieces to make 3 cars, sand paper.

Tech:

Oculus Quest 2 transports your movements directly into VR with intuitive controls. Get the best seat in the house to live concerts, games, groundbreaking films, exclusive events and more.

Echo Dot for kids lets kids ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family. The included year of Amazon Kids+ (FreeTime Unlimited) gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills.

Fuji film instax mini camera + accessories is an awesome gift for kids who enjoy snapping photos. Photos immediately are printed and can be added to the photo albums.

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch is great for kids 4+. They can take photos, learn to tell time and play games on this watch. It comes in a variety of colors.

Powerbeats wireless earphones: Up to 9 hours of listening time with secure ear fit. Apple Airpods Pro are another good option in fact these are my favorite as they are noise reducing and I can pop them in while my kids are doing virtual school if I need to cancel out the noise.

Wireless karaoke microphone is a handheld karaoke microphone which is small in size and easy to hold. Kids can practice and share favorite songs using music apps (YouTube , Pandora, Spotify..)

Osmo starter kit: Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad, bringing a child’s game pieces & actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play).

A bluetooth speaker is great to have when you go outdoors as it is bluetooth compatible. We brought this one along on our beach trips this summer and it worked great. A cheaper option is this Bose one.

Related posts:
Gift guide for kids
Stocking stuffers under $13
Toys & games that are educational
Indoor & outdoor must-haves
Subscription boxes for children

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

logo design courtesy of New Leaf Design