Holiday Gift Guide for a Glamorous Grandma

When Rookwood Commons and Pavilion asked if I could help pick out holiday gifts for “Grandma” I said sure, as long as she can be a Glamorous Grandma. If you know my mom, you know what I’m talking about. So I put on my mask and headed to Rookwood, on the east side of Cincinnati to go holiday gift shopping. I was a little trepidatious about shopping in the current climate, but I didn’t need to worry: there are social distance markers and reminders, as well as sanitizers, throughout the shopping center and I never felt crowded or unsafe. Many stores are also offering curb-side pick up if you prefer to stay out of stores. So, you know you can shop for holiday gifts, but what should you buy for Glamorous Grandma?

Here are ten ideas for the cool Grandma (she’s not a regular Grandma) in your life:

*Sur La Table: My mom loves to cook and this Le Creuset Dutch Oven the perfect size for making her homemade Matzo Ball soup or maybe a Roast Chicken recipe from her favorite, Ina Garten. They are also offering virtual cooking classes you can take at home starting at just $29!

*Maverick Chocolate Truffles: I’ve yet to meet a Grandma that doesn’t like chocolate and you can mix and match a box of truffles at Maverick Chocolate to make sure she gets all her favorite flavors

*Joseph-Beth Booksellers: My Mom is a voracious reader and she’s been dying to read President Obama’s new book. If you don’t have a specific book in mind, the staff at Joseph-Beth are always super helpful with finding the perfect one for you.

*Athleta: Only in 2020 would I be suggesting face masks as a gift, but these are by far my favorite. Their Made of Move Masks are breathable, have a filter pocket and metal down the nose to make sure it fits snugly, but comfortably.

*Talbots: We have an ongoing joke about “tops” from Talbots in our family as it’s always what my Grandma wanted for Chanukah. That said, this chunky purple sweater is nothing to joke about. My mom really suits jewel tones, so I’d love it on her. Talbots also has petite sizes for those, like my mom, who are vertically challenged.

*Whole Foods: Did you know Whole Foods has an extensive wine selection? They happen to carry my mom’s favorite, Rombauer Chardonnay. An easy holiday gift you know she’ll love.

*Nordstrom Rack: Before moving back to Ohio, my mom lived in California so winter attire wasn’t really in her wardrobe. These super cute, but super functional, Ugg gloves will be a must for Ohio winter and at a fraction of the retail price!

*Ulta: Every Glamorous Grandma knows the secret to being mistaken for your daughter’s sister is in taking care of your skin. This Sunday Riley gift set will help her glow from within and keep people asking how she could possibly be a Grandma.

*Redlands Grill: Somewhere between fast-casual and upscale dining lies Redlands Grill. My son always chooses to have his birthday dinner there and they are now offering online, take-out orders, too. A gift card from Redlands will not go unused!

*Mitchell’s Salon and Day Spa: Last but not least, who couldn’t use some pampering right now? I know my mom would love a facial, manicure and pedicure to help her recharge. Right now you can get a $100 gift card for $80 or $50 for $40!

I’ve clearly shopped with my mom in mind, but there’s something for every Grandma, glamorous or not, at Rookwood Commons! Keep an eye out for the full gift guide from @ShopRookwood and @CincinnatiBloggers!

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Eurocamp Le Brasilia Camping Holiday in France

Last year we weren't sure what we were getting ourselves in to going on a camping holiday in France with Eurocamp. This year we knew we were going to have a great trip but we really didn't know just how amazing Le Brasilia was going to be! I promise you it is not hyperbole when I say it is absolutely the perfect place to go on a self-catering holiday with a preschooler!

When we were picking a parc for our holiday we focused on the Premier Parcs which offer a holiday experience that’s exceptional, even by Eurocamp's already high standards. I wanted to go somewhere that was still warm in early September and NotBlondeHusband wanted to go to France since we'd already been to Spain in June. We'd been to the south east of France before and knew how easy it was to fly into Barcelona and drive up so Le Brasilia at Canet Plage seemed like a great location. Plus it had heated pools and waterslides which are always a must for our little pool rat. To make it even better there was direct access to the beach from the site. We were sold.

The parc sounded brilliant on paper but honestly I wasn't prepared for how great it was in person. The parc has a butchers, bakers, green grocers, wine shop and mini grocery store all on site--you literally don't have to leave the parc if you don't want to. It was great to walk up with Blondie Boy in the morning and have him visit the boulangerie and ask "baguette s'il vous plaît!" There was also a restaurant with an ice cream parlour but we much preferred to eat in our accommodation.

There was plenty of room to eat inside our Eclipse but we ate every meal (except the day it rained) on our deck. For a family with a young child that deck is the absolute best. Blondie Boy would play on the deck but also once he was asleep at night NBH and I would sit outside and listen to music, play cards and enjoy the night but still hear him if he woke up. On the day that it did rain (and omg did it storm) we borrowed the game Guess Who from our couriers (there are lots of games, beach toys, etc you can take on loan) and had fun in doors while we waited out the storm.

We spent every day at the pool and every evening at the Mini Show.  Blondie Boy loved all the different water slides and went from going down on one of our laps to going down the biggest slides on his own in no time flat. He is such a pool rat and would get off the slide and immediately go back up to go down again. I think NBH was giving me the side-eye when I insisted on a parc with water slides but I'm so glad I did! There was also aqua-zumba class that was really more for fun than fitness that Blondie Boy loved, too! It combined his love of swimming and dancing.

Before or after hitting the pool we'd head down to the beach; being able to walk directly out onto the beach was amazing. Normally you have to think about packing lunches, parking, a change of clothes---nope none of it. If we got to the beach and Blondie Boy was only up for 30 minutes of beach time that was okay because we could just walk back. If it was too hot or he got hungry, no big deal. The ocean was really shallow along the beach so perfect for children to play in and the beach itself was soft white sand. I'm not a fan of pebble or shell beaches so it was perfect. We built sand creatures, jumped over waves and collected stones and shells--it was perfect. I love the beach and I've definitely passed that on to BB.

The part of our holiday he probably loved the most though was the Mini Show. Every night the kid's club staff would lead kids in singing and dancing at the amphitheatre. I'm fairly sure it was NotBlondeHusband's own version of hell but Blondie Boy LOVED it. In fact I'm not sure love is a strong enough word. Nearly two months later and he is still singing the songs and doing the dance moves just about every day. 

I can't tell you enough how amazing our Eurocamp Le Brasilia experience was. They really aren't kidding when they call it a Premier Parc there are so many extras. You get free tickets to ride the little train that runs from the parc into the town as well as free tickets to take a boat across the port into town, too. Blondie Boy had never been on a boat before so to be able to take him on the short 5 minute journey was so much fun for him. I could go on and on but I've already bombarded you with so many photos and videos I will let them just reiterate my point for me. Le Brasilia is the perfect family holiday with a preschooler--just listen to Blondie Boy!

Eurocamp, the self-catering holiday specialist, offers the widest selection of outdoor family holidays in fantastic locations throughout Europe, with a range of stylish accommodation, pool complexes, unrivalled facilities and kids’ club activities.

After uniting with its sister company Keycamp to offer customers a bigger, better choice, from 2014 there are over 160 parcs to choose from across France, Spain and Italy, as well as unique accommodation on offer including stylish mobile homes, lodges, bungalows, Safari Tents and brand new Tree and Lake House accommodation.

Seven nights from 24 April 2014 for a family of two adults and up to four children staying in a 2 bed Espirit mobile home with decking and air conditioning at Le Brasilia will cost from £355 including return Dover to Calais ferry crossings. Fly-drive and alternative ferry packages can be arranged though Eurocamp at a supplement.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

Let's be friends! Find me here: Transatlantic Blonde's accommodation was provided for the purpose of this review but all travel and other costs on holiday were met by ourselves. All opinions are our own--do you think I could get a preschooler to lie?

What I Wore Wednesday: Mar Menor, Spain

I really wish Glasgow knew what summer actually means. It is currently 55 degrees and raining--I'm sorry but that is not how summer is defined in my dictionary. Luckily while we were on holiday by Mar Menor, Spain we actually got to experience summer. I'm talking temperatures in the 80s/90s, swimming outside, blue skies and SUNSHINE!!!

We rented a villa with NotBlondeHusband's sister, mom and her husband; we had our very own pool and hot tub. We ate breakfast outside on the patio and swam every day and generally only went inside to sleep. It was absolutely perfect and over way too fast.

Blondie Boy LOVED the pool. We had to enforce a sort of backwards adult swim where he was allowed 15 minutes in and 45 minutes out only because we were worried he'd still burn even with super high SPF on. He is a total pool rat and we're going to look into getting him swim lessons again now we are home.

Perfecting the lift from Dirty Dancing

We were only 10 minutes from the beach at Mar Menor (a salt water lagoon separated from the ocean by a large inhabited sandbar) and 25 minutes from the ocean side of La Manga (the aforementioned big ass sandbar) but we only ventured there twice. We drove down La Manga one evening and Blondie Boy had such a great time playing in the sand along the ocean that we went to the Mar Menor beach the next morning to build more sand creatures and collect shells. If you're going to this part of Spain the water in Mar Menor is really warm and really shallow so is pretty ideal for small children!

I pretty much was in my swimsuit all day and then changed into a sleeveless top and shorts or a sun dress at night. It so rarely gets warm enough for shorts in Glasgow I had to buy some before we left! I've put them away for the next time I'll need them but I'm not holding my breath!

I have about a gazillion pictures of Blondie Boy swimming or playing with his new cars (visiting Spanish Toys R Us was on his to do list) but I won't bore you all with them. I'm so glad we were able to get away and I would totally go back again. At first I was worried we didn't really do anything super cultural but then I realised growing up our vacations were about going to the beach and getting good weather and honestly there is nothing wrong with that. If you think of Spain as our Florida (Midwest Americans go to Florida, Scottish people go to Spain), lazing by the pool all day doesn't sound so bad. To be honest does lazing by the pool ever sound bad?

We did go into Cartagena, a former Roman strong hold, for the afternoon and walked around the cobbled streets and even found our way into Sephora (why are is Sephora on the continent and not in the UK?!? Why is their iced tea on the continent and not in the UK? Why are churros so freaking tasty?!?!) and had drinks on the harbour. It was super windy but we managed to snap one picture on the promenade and then another when we got home.

High Low Skull top-HM

Dark Wash Denim Shorts-Forever 21

Flip Flops-Old Navy

We all know I have a minor major obsession with skulls so when I saw this shirt at H&M I had to buy it. Forever 21 only opened in Glasgow a month or so ago and honestly I wasn't sure if it was my type of place but since they had shorts that fit me it TOTALLY is! I've learned over time not to try and buy pants/trousers that aren't made in America. I know that sounds odd but my American ass is not made for British jeans what can I say! Do you have issues finding pants/trousers that fit right?

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What I Wore Wednesday: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Santa Claus has been and gone, turkey has been eaten and Blondie Boy puked on the table--it's been quite a day! We've finally gotten a very excited Blondie Boy to bed shortly before midnight and now we are playing board games. Instead of scrambling to upload photos I hope y'all don't mind I'm taking this week off! My Mom gets on a plane in California tomorrow and will be with us on Wednesday so still lots of family fun to be had. Hope you've all had a great holiday!

What I Wore Wednesday: Toddler Holiday Chic

We didn't get home until after midnight from France last Wednesday so I didn't get a post up in time for What I Wore for the first time! We had a great time at Eurocamp Le Grand Metairie but I'll get into that more in another post. We really just spent time together the three of us without tv or computers and with very little internet; it was fun to just hang out and play cards or dominos with NotBlondeHusband on the deck at night after Blondie Boy had gone to bed.

I'm pretty sure we all ate our body weight in baguettes and Blondie Boy discovered a love of French butter which he'd lick and eat off the baguette and then ask for more--he'd end up with a shiny butter face and need to be hosed down afterwards.


We kept it really casual  on holiday so my outfits really aren't worth a post. I wore several different Old Navy or Gap Vest Tops mixed with jeans or shorts--nothing exciting. So I will focus on what Blondie Boy wore because he is cuter than me anyway :)

Cincinnati Reds Baseball Hat

Harajuku Lovers Tee-shirt

HM Skullie Shorts 

Polliwalks Sandals

I made him pose because I loved this outfit and knew I'd use it for What I Wore Wednesday! I just think he looks so cool but maybe I'm biased :)

Sevylor Puddle Jumper

If you have a toddler this is the coolest swim accessory EVER! Blondie Boy swam around by himself! There was a lazy river so he could just float and swim around and around and he loved it! He had so much fun at the pool and I can't recommend the Puddle Jumper enough!

Cincinnati Reds Baseball Cap

Superman Tee Shirt

Tu Cargo Pants

Converse

Blondie Boy loves his Cincinnati Reds hat, LOVES it. When we were sitting outside Beauvais airport waiting for check-in to open a man and woman saw his hat and asked if we were from Cincinnati. It turned out they were from Kettering where my Grandma lives in Ohio. It is "small world" moments like these that I love! It is probably why I subconsciously almost always travel in Cincinnati Bearcat shirts :)


I also puffy-heart love these Converse. There is Velcro to the side of the tongue so they are easy on and off and no laces to trip over. Plus the turquoise are just a super fun colour; I got them at the outlet malls in Cincinnati; if you are ever near a Converse Outlet go because the deals are amazing!

Blue Hooded Gap Sweatshirt

Marks and Spencer Jeans

Umm is it just me or does he look majorly grown up here? This is when we were kicking it outside the airport waiting for check-in. He just totally looks like such a big boy to me in this photo. I also love this sweatshirt because you can't tell but it makes his blue eyes just pop ;)

What do you wear on vacation? Do you dress up or just keep it casual?




Transatlantic Blonde's accommodation at Eurocamp and the Puddle Jumper were provided for review but all opinions are our own. Y'all know I only say things I really mean, right?

What I Wore Wednesday: Sweden

Hopefully I will get around to doing a Gothenburg post soon; I took a lot of food photos and after yacking the majority of the photos up I haven't been able to look at them again yet. Hopefully a What I Wore Swedish edition will do for now!  First off look what was staring back at me fromthe magazine rack at 7-11:

I don't read Swedish but it obviously says that pink hair is the coolest, chicest thing ever. We only had carry-on luggage so I had to limit my outfit choices. The first night it was really cold and we had to walk far so I went for a more casual look:

Pink top-Anthropologie

Brown Chunky Scarf- H and M

Hat- Tesco (on sale only £2!)

Grey Trench-Zara

The Flirt Jeans-Old Navy

Navy and Pink New Balances- Zappos

Black Bag- "Coach" (It's from Thailand hence quotations)

We didn't end up going out for dinner Saturday night because I felt really sick (I didn't dress up for Burger King at the train station-shocker!) but we went to Marcus Samuelson's (he won Top Chef All Stars) new restaurant, Norda Bar and Grill the next night. I decided to go with a tried tested look. There was a sparkly gold wall outside the main door of the hotel and I couldn't resist posing with it!

Cropped Blazer- HM

Black Sequin Top- Loft Outlet 

Boot Cut Leggings- Hold Your Haunches

Leopard Print Heels- Dune (TK Maxx)