Stunning Santorini

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

I fell in love with my favorite place in the world, the island of Santorini in Greece, when I was 14 years old and I watched the movie Summer Lovers. Right there and then, I decided that this idyllic island would (hopefully) be my honeymoon destination (regardless of where my future husband would want to visit). Well, 14 years later, my wish came true. When my husband and I were planning our wedding and he suggested Hawaii as a place to honeymoon, I very sweetly suggested the Greek Islands instead, and the rest as they say, is history. Our honeymoon included a few days in Athens and also in Mykonos (click here for my Mykonos blog post). Santorini went above and beyond all of my expectations, it is simply breathtaking. It is so beautiful, that most of the photos and postcards that you will see of Greece, will typically be of Santorini…it is the most photographed of the Greek Islands. And trust me, the postcards don’t do it justice! Luckily I have had the opportunity to visit Santorini many more times, and I always leave with the feeling that I can’t wait to visit again!

Santorini, Greece

There are so many things to see and do on this special island that this blog post could go on for days…LOL! So, I have decided to round-up my Top 5 experiences on all of my visits!

Fira. Fira is the largest town on Santorini, and is also the first town many travelers experience, as Santorini’s ferry and cruise ports are located in Fira. While most of the pictures you will see are of the town of Oia, I actually prefer to stay in Fira, the island’s capital. Fira also has a thriving night life, something for everyone, clubs, bars, restaurants, and shops stay open past midnight. Nothing like walking around at 11PM having some gelato, and feeling like it’s 2 o’clock in the afternoon, I love places that stay open late when I’m on vacation. I also find that there is a larger selection of hotels to choose from in Fira, extending to Firostefani and Imerovigli, the two towns immediately north of Fira. This past summer we stayed at the Adamis Majesty Suites, which we loved, a spacious cave house with a perfect location, and million dollar views! Fira also boasts great shopping with many boutiques and local designer shops. Make sure to visit some of the gold and jewelry stores, with amazingly beautiful 18 karat gold jewelry, showcasing the very distinctive Greek designs. Also not to be missed are the delicious restaurants Fira has to offer. Sphinx and Archipelagos among my favorites, and if you’re looking for amazing gelato and homemade Greek desserts and pastries, make sure to stop in at Zotos Cafe & Bakery, on the main pedestrian path.

A view of Fira

Delicious homemade Greek pastries at Zotos Cafe

A Visit to Oia. Having said this, the village of Oia, located on the northwestern end of Santorini, is magical. I always like to visit during the day and also in the evenings. Oia is special (fun fact: the house that the Summer Lovers characters lived in is located in Oia, not Fira). Oia is a sleepier, quieter version of Fira. Here you’ll find those red cliffs, white windmills, and blue-domed churches from the postcards. It’s famous for its sunsets and great for honeymooners. You can find smaller art galleries and many unique shops in Oia. Oia is a short bus ride away from Fira, a must see.

Beautiful Oia

Summer Lovers house…

Breakfast with a View. Many of the hotels in Fira and Oia have rooms with a view to the caldera. There are many other areas in Santorini where you can stay as well, such as Perissa or Kamari, if you prefer to stay near the beach. But in my humble opinion, there is nothing quite like opening up your window and seeing the beautiful blue waters and the gorgeous views of the caldera and the cliffside town. Many of the hotels will serve you breakfast on the terrace outside of your room, so you can enjoy these views, while having your meal. My husband always says that he could spend an entire day just sitting in a café or in one of the hotel balconies, overlooking the caldera and taking in this view. Absolutely magnificent!

Breakfast on our terrace, priceless.

Dinner at Sunset. Similar to the views in the morning, Santorini is famous for its gorgeous sunsets. Fira and Oia both have plenty of cafes and restaurants that advertise their sunsets. Many people flock to the old Kasteli (Castle) of Agios Nikolaos in Oia, which has become the most desired spot for sunset watching. It can also get pretty crowded, so get there early to claim a spot. You can also catch the sunset with no obstructions, by walking the northwest end of the village above the steps leading down to Amoudi and find a place to park yourself. While most folks prefer to watch the sunset in Oia, I have also seen the sunsets in Fira, and they are just as amazing. And watching the sunset while enjoying your dinner with a glass of wine is an experience all on its own!

Our daughter taking in the view…

The beautiful sunset…

The crowds forming to watch the sunset…

Blue Domes Everywhere. And then of course…there are the numerous, beautiful, blue domed churches that the island is famously known for. Almost everywhere you look, in every town throughout the island you can’t miss these brilliant, blue domes! Most of these churches are open during the day, stop in and take a look, they are just as beautiful inside as well. One of my favorites is the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the center of Fira.

The many domes of Santorini!

Some more fun things to do while visiting Santorini:

Visit Akrotiri, the ancient and fascinating archaeological site.
Spend a day at one of the beaches, Perissa and Red Beach are my favorites.
Take a donkey ride or cable car from the port up to town.
Rent a scooter or ATV and spend the day cruising the island.
Relax with a kissing fish spa pedicure (yes folks I tried this and actually liked it).
Visit one of the island’s wineries, Boutari is my favorite.
Visit the traditional village of Megalochori.
Visit the Argyros Mansion in the town of Messaria.
Take a boat ride out to the volcano, Santorini should be viewed from the water.
And for those of you traveling with small kids, you can always spend an afternoon at the Perissa Water Park, although it’s just a very large pool with a few water slides!

Here are a few more photos for your enjoyment:

Our hotel this year…Adamis Majesty Suites, perfect location!

The largest church of Santorini, the Orthodox Cathedral located at the center of Fira.

The largest church in Santorini, the Orthodox Cathedral located at the center of Fira.

Hubby and daughter taking off on their ATV adventure!

One of their stops…Red Beach!

Beautiful shop in Oia.

Oia…

Fira at midnight…

Bell Tower

More of Oia

The colorful ceramics sold on the island, hard to choose…but of course I purchased a few…

Strolling through Fira

Is Santorini on your travel bucket list? If it’s not, it should be. Have you visited this gorgeous island, I would love to know what you thought of it…

30Dec2014

Christmas Card Books

Posted in Crafts & Creativity by listen2mama

So, I’m curious…what do you do with all of the Christmas cards you receive every year, once the holidays are over? In the past, I’ve tried to come up with ideas of storing, organizing or possibly displaying the cards, after all, most of them are so pretty, I can never seem to just toss them. Of course I don’t keep the ones from the orthodontist or the insurance agent, but I have a hard time discarding the beautiful photo cards that we receive from our family and friends. I love to see how all of my friends’ kids are growing each year, especially since many live far away and I don’t get to see them as often as I would like. Well in my search for ideas, as I was “Pinteresting” one day, I came across a very cute and simple craft to solve this problem…the annual Christmas Card book. And I do mean simple, anyone can make this, regardless of how crafty you may or may not be.

Once the books are done, you can either store them or display them on your coffee table every Christmas and browse through them. There are many different versions out there, you can truly make them as fancy or simple as you prefer. So here are my favorites…just click on the links in the photos for the simple instructions on how to assemble your Christmas Card Book:

Christmas Card Books, click here.

Another version of the Christmas Card Book, click here.

Another interesting version, click here.

And of course if you don’t have time to or like to craft, this book is about as simple as it gets… just put all the cards through a 1-inch ring binder, tie some cute ribbons on the ring, and it’s done!

Simple book…

This one is more of a Christmas Art Journal, but you can include your Christmas cards in it as well. And again, you may embellish it as much or as little as you like.

Christmas Art Journal, click here.

What will you do with your holiday cards this year? Do you have a special spot or way you display them, I’d love to hear!

23Dec2014

My Christmas Must Haves!

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! I love the family gatherings, the delicious holiday treats, the Christmas music that reminds me of my youth, Secret Santa gifts for school, the beautiful lights and trees everywhere, hunting for the perfect gift for loved ones and most importantly, celebrating the birth of Jesus. But sometimes I need a little help to get me through some of the last minute craziness of the holidays, and that’s where my Christmas Survival Kit helps me stay sane and continue with my holiday spirit:

I love the Starbucks holiday drinks served in the holiday cups. My favorite is the Peppermint Mocha; espresso, steamed milk, mocha sauce and peppermint flavored syrup. Topped with sweetened whipped cream and dark chocolate curls. YUM! Along with their holiday drinks, I also love and look forward to their Cranberry Bliss Bar every year; a blondie cake base, topped with sweet cream cheese icing, tart dried cranberries and white orange drizzle. It’s delicious!

In my house we all love to listen to Christmas music, but one album in particular has been part of my Christmas tradition since I was very young. The Salsoul Orchestra Christmas Jollies. Typical Christmas songs with a disco, dance twist (yes, in case you’re wondering, I grew up in the 70s and 80s). You can listen to some of the songs and download the entire album if you like it on iTunes here.

We also love to watch Christmas movies, I love them all really, but my favorite has to be Love Actually. Not only do I love the message it sends, but I also happen to love many of the actors in the film (my favorites being Colin Firth and Hugh Grant).

Another Christmas tradition from my youth, and I have continued it in my adult life is the Swiss Colony Christmas Petit Fours, you can order some here. Every year I order boxes for all of my family members (they all love them too), and I make sure we have plenty to serve on Christmas day. It’s just not Christmas without Swiss Colony!

And last but not least, I love to sit at night with my husband sipping hot chocolate, and just gaze at our beautifully decorated tree. I’ve been collecting Christmas ornaments for many years, Hallmark dated ones to mark special occasions, glass and ceramic ornaments from our various trips to Greece, Germany, Spain and Italy, as well as many others I’ve received as gifts. My daughter just told me the other day that our tree was very special, and that she had never seen any other tree with such beautiful and special ornaments. That made my day!

But sometimes I can get a bit stressed when trying to figure out what to buy that one difficult person (usually the men in my family). Last year, I came across Man Crates, a company that specializes in creating wooden gift boxes for men with anything from movie night to golfing (oh, and did I mention it comes with a crowbar for them to open it with?) As stated on their website:

“We say ‘no’ to ugly neckties, cologne samplers and executive trinkets.
We don’t save wrapping paper, we don’t do ribbons.
We ship bragworthy gifts for guys.
Gifts that you can’t wait to arrive because you know the recipient will love opening them.
Gifts that people gather round at the office, people following the sounds of wood being torn from wood by the included, laser-engraved crowbar.
We are Man Crates, and we deliver awesome gifts for men”

So, if you’re looking for some creative gifts for the men in your life, make sure to check out Man Crates and click here for some awesome gift ideas . I’m sure you will find something very original for that special guy. Prices for crates range from $25 – $180. Here’s one of my favorites:

The Clean Shave Crate Photo Courtesy of Man Crates

What are your holiday must haves? I’d love to hear!

16Dec2014

WHISK Gourmet

Posted in Food & Recipes by listen2mama

So, I finally got to eat at WHISK Gourmet. I had been hearing about this amazing restaurant, and was dying to try it out, but they don’t take reservations for parties smaller than six, and they’re usually pretty busy (they won’t even sit you down until your entire party is present). WHISK is owned by Brendan and Kristin Conner, a brother and sister team, who started the business in 2007 as a catering company in Coral Gables. The catering company evolved into a restaurant over the next few years and they relocated to South Miami in 2011, making it a true neighborhood restaurant. They have really put this place on the map, but it’s quite tiny, so you just might miss it if you’re not familiar with the area. Parking can be difficult, as it is throughout most of Miami, but don’t let this keep you away.

WHISK Restaurant

We recently went on the off-chance of getting a table on a Thursday evening, and we got lucky. First, I love the decor. It’s a cozy little restaurant that makes you feel as if you were in any other town, but Miami. Whisk has a certain charm and warmth to it and the atmosphere is very welcoming (oh yeah, and they serve their drinks in mason jars, my kind of place).

I wasn’t sure what to order, as everything sounded delicious, true southern comfort food. We started with their freshly baked warm Homemade Cornbread served with scallion-honey-buttercorn…yum! Then we ordered the Butternut Squash Soup and the Fried Green Tomatoes, as they are quite popular, and now I know why. Being a huge fan of pork, hubby had the Pulled Pork Sliders served with honey cider slaw, mustard barbecue sauce, and house pickles. I ordered the Lump Crab Cake served with sautéed spinach, crispy shallots and corn relish.

Warm homemade Corn bread and Butternut Squash Soup

Fried Green Tomatoes & herb buttermilk dressing

Pulled Pork Sliders

Lump Crab Cake served with sautéed spinach, crispy shallots and corn relish.

Everything was delicious but we definitely took some home, as the portions are generous, and we made sure we left room for dessert. All of the desserts sounded heavenly, and in addition to the variety of desserts (which I believe changes quite often to keep the menu fresh and exciting), they offer a daily homemade cake (Sweet Annie’s Slice of Cake), which ranges from guava to plain vanilla, but they are all delicious and moist. Luckily for hubby, on the day we went they were also serving coconut bread pudding, one of his favorite all time desserts!

Warm Coconut Bread Pudding served with vanilla crème anglaise and toasted coconut flakes.

Needless to say, we’ve been back a few more times, including a Sunday family brunch, and this place does not disappoint! Every Friday is Burger Friday, featuring a different burger every week, adding to the originality of their menu. Here are a few more photos of the dishes we had on our other visits:

The Tuna Melt, fresh grilled tuna salad, melted havarti cheese, bacon, arugula, tomato, crispy shallots, mayo & dijon.

Pan Roasted Snapper Filet, fingerling potato cake, grilled asparagus, beurre blanc, charred lemon.

PB&J Parfait layered on top of chocolate cookie crumbles.

Papa’s Buttermilk Pancakes served with pecan caramel praline butter and maple syrup.
My daughter claims these are the absolute best pancakes she’s ever had in her life!

Fried Green Tomato Stack with bacon, pimiento cheese, baby arugula & egg.

Fried Green Tomato Stack with bacon, pimiento cheese and baby arugula, topped with an egg.

If you’re in the Miami area, make sure you stop by and check them out. I guarantee you will love their food!

WHISK Gourmet Food & Catering
7382 SW 56th Avenue
South Miami, FL 33143
786-268-8350

http://www.whiskgourmet.com

9Dec2014

Mason Jar Gifts for the Holidays

Posted in Crafts & Creativity by listen2mama

Mason jars are all the rage these days. From home decor to wedding centerpieces to light fixtures to stationery to housewares, mason jars make the perfect gift. Every year I find myself searching for new and original Secret Santa gifts for friends and my daughter’s classmates. This year I decided to make some gifts, using mason jars. You can fit almost anything into a mason jar, tie it up with some ribbon, add a cute tag, and voila! Here are some of my favorite mason jar gift ideas for the holidays:

I actually made this same exact one last year for a Secret Santa gift for my daughter’s school. It came out so cute! M&M Christmas Poem Jar, click here.

Hot Cocoa Mason Jars, click here.

Mason Jar for the Golfer, click here.

Chocolate Kisses Mason Jar, click here.

Peppermint Pampering Mason Jar, click here.

The Mason Jar Cookie Company, click here.

Spa in a Jar, click here.

Santa Twizzlers Mason Jar, click here.

Mas Jar for the Baker, click here.

Nutcraker topped Popcorn & Peppermint Mason Jars, click here.

Nutcracker topped Popcorn & Peppermint Mason Jars, click here.

Mason Jar for the Craft Lover, click here.

Do you like mason jars? If so, what do you use them for?

1Dec2014

Monogram Jewelry

Posted in Beauty & Style by listen2mama

My daughter on her lst birthday, wearing her monogrammed acrylic necklace from Moon & Lola

My daughter wearing her monogram acrylic necklace from M&L

In the past few years, monogram and personalized jewelry have made a huge comeback. You see everyone wearing the large initial necklaces and the nameplates, almost everywhere you look. I remember my “Carrie” necklace from the 80’s (I think I still have it), and I’m glad I kept it! One of my favorite stores to find these fun pieces is Moon & Lola, a jewelry boutique featuring necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other high fashion items, all designed and produced in Apex, NC, a few towns over from Raleigh. There is also a flagship store in downtown Raleigh, and one in Charleston, SC. But of course, if you don’t live near to any of these locations, you can always visit their website to find numerous retailers that carry their items, nationwide, including Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. And by the way, their colorful monogrammed cuff links ended up on Oprah’s 72-item “Favorite Things” holiday list for 2014, read all about it, here.

Just having visited Raleigh a few weeks ago, I can tell you M&L is a place not to be missed. First, the store is gorgeous! When you walk in, you’re not sure where to look. So many cute, comfy, pink couches, and all of their displays are beautiful.

Moon & Lola, Raleigh

Also, the staff could not be friendlier. Each time I’ve visited the store I have always been greeted by very attentive, sweet, young ladies that really take the time to help you personalize just about any item they sell. Needless to say, we made a few purchases, and my daughter loved everything about this place, so I’m sure we will be returning on our future Raleigh visits. And if we don’t make it back soon…there’s always the website!

Gorgeous displays at Moon & Lola

My daughter in heaven…designing some bracelets with charms…

More beautiful displays…

Moon & Lola

219 North Salem Street, Suite 100
Apex, NC
919.367.6838

208 South Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC
919.322.4277

http://www.MoonandLola.com

Many other retailers sell monogram jewelry as well, as it’s very much a trend right now, especially among the younger crowds. A few of my other favorite online monogram jewelry websites include:

Allison & Ivy

Alison and Ivy Cutout Heart Name Necklace, $125.

Marley Lilly

Marley Lilly Monogrammed Wire And Stone Bangle Set, $45

Three Hip Chicks

Dalton Initial Charm Necklace with 3 Charms, Threee Hip Chicks, $68

Three Hip Chicks, Dalton Initial Charm Necklace with 3 Charms, $68.

Max and Chloe

Max & Chloe, Jenny Present Pink Lauren Wrap Bracelet, $85

Swell Caroline

Swell Caroline, Nantucket Charm Bracelet, $40

Do you like or own any monogram jewelry, and if you do, which are your favorite pieces?

27Nov2014

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted in Lifestyle by listen2mama

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends. I would also like to thank all of my blog readers and followers, I am truly grateful and I hope you are enjoying reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it….Have a blessed day with your loved ones!

25Nov2014

Ms. Cheezious

Posted in Food & Recipes by listen2mama

Ms. Cheezious is one of the many food trucks that have taken over the Miami Food Truck scene in the last few years. It offers an amazing variety of delicious, mouth-watering grilled cheese concoctions that leave you coming back for seconds.

The Ms. Cheezious truck

I kept hearing about these incredible grilled cheese sandwiches, so I decided to check them out for myself. I went with the intention of trying their delicious infamous “Croqueta Monsieur”. According to Ms. Cheezious owner Brian Mullins, his wife had an epiphany one night and thought, ‘Let’s take the croque-monsieur and add croquetas to it.'” And boy, an epiphany it was!

Croqueta Monsieur

The sandwich includes three croquetas, shaved tavern ham, Gruyère, and a béchamel sauce that has more than a couple of handfuls of Gouda. It’s probably similar in taste to a Croqueta Preparada sandwich, but I wouldn’t know, as they sold out of this delicacy within 20 minutes of opening up the truck at lunchtime. By the time I arrived, close to 2PM, they were also out of pesto and pulled pork. You can also create your sandwich, choosing bread from their daily selection and then of course, the cheese, from options like American, Cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, Blue, Brie, Havarti or Provolone. I decided on the Italian (provolone, tomato, basil and cream cheese on white bread). By far, one of the yummiest grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever tasted. The other favorites seem to be The Grilled Blue & Bacon (crisp bacon, creamy blue cheese and green onions on sour dough bread), The Crabby Cheese Melt (fresh made crab salad with sharp cheddar cheese on sourdough bread) and the Goat Cheese & Prosciutto (goat cheese, prosciutto, tomato and arugula on marble rye bread). All of them sound amazing! Next time I will definitely try one of their specialties.

The Italian

Grilled Blue & Bacon

Crabby Cheese Melt

Goat Cheese & Prosciutto

And fear not…they also offer dessert options, like the Sweet Meltdown, a combination of Ricotta cheese and orange marmalade blend on Texas toast served with chocolate dipping sauce! What more can you ask for in a grilled cheese sandwich?

Sweet Meltdown

Prices for the sandwiches range from $6-$8 and side items like tomato soup and various types of fries range from $3-$6. So if you happen to be in South Florida and spot the big blue truck, make sure you stop by and try one of their delicious sandwiches. You can find their location schedule on their website at http://mscheezious.com. And soon they will be opening up their brick-and-mortar restaurant to be located at 7418 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, with additional items on the menu. I can’t wait!

Do you like food trucks? And if so, which are your favorite?

19Nov2014

Magical Mijas

Posted in Travel & Adventure by listen2mama

Mijas is renowned as one of the most beautiful pueblos blancos (white towns) in the Andalusian province. Situated between Marbella and Málaga and high up above Fuengirola, Mijas is a beautiful picturesque typical Spanish village. When you wander through the narrow streets of Mijas you can understand what attracts people here. Despite its huge popularity with tourists, Mijas Pueblo has somehow managed to retain much of its traditional Andalusian way of life, along with all of its charm.

What a view!

From the moment you arrive at the main plaza, Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña, across from the tourism office, you will immediately notice the donkey taxi station. Also available are donkey pulled carts and horse carriages. Needless to say, our daughter wanted to ride one of the donkeys. But you see, it’s not truly a ride, but rather a tour through some of the town’s streets, except you’re taking the tour on a donkey ride. And the worst part was, that my husband and I had no interest in riding these donkeys, so we had to put our trust in two American, sweet ladies that were going along with our daughter. Now for those of you that know me, being the most overprotective mother on Earth, this was a tough pill for me to swallow….but, hubby decided that it would be alright. And it was, our daughter had a delightful tour of Mijas riding a donkey, being guided by a total stranger, who assured me this was safe (I’ve noticed that I allow myself and my family to experience things on vacation that I would never try here at home in a million years!)

Donkey Taxi Ride

One of my favorite sites in Mijas was the Santuario de la Virgen de la Peña, (sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rock) built in 1586, a cross between a cave and a chapel carved out of the mountainside, dedicated to the patron saint of Mijas. Legend has it that the image was buried there for five centuries and unearthed by a builder whose children, who were shepherds, were brought to the spot by a dove. Nearby the chapel, lies the Mirador El Compás, viewpoint and terrace, offering phenomenal panoramic views across the Costa that form the backdrop to the shrine.

Santuario de la Virgen de la Peña

Inside of the shrine

Mirador El Compás, viewpoint and terrace.

La Plaza de la Constitución, situated in the heart of the village, is lined with artisanal shops, full of ceramics and souvenirs, as well as some cafes and bars. One of the shops we visited was Mayan Monkey Mijas (Plaza de la Constitución 421, but they recently opened another location at 15 Plaza Virgén de la Peña), the smallest chocolate factory in the world. This shop sells handmade chocolate and delicious ice cream produced in their very own factory in Mijas. We sampled a few pieces and they were mouth-watering. If you have time, they also give tours of the factory and allow you to create your own chocolate flavors. A great activity for both kids and adults. Definitely a place to checkout if you’re in the area.

La Plaza de la Constitución

Mayan Monkey Mijas Chocolate Factory on Plaza de la Constitución

Another great spot in town is Plaza de la Libertad, where you can find San Sebastián Church, a beautiful 17th century church, located on the street of the same name, Calle San Sebastián. This street has become one of the most photographed streets on the Costa del Sol, as visitors find both the church and the typical street so pretty.

San Sebastian Church on Plaza de la Libertad

San Sebastián Church on Plaza de la Libertad

Inside of San Sebastián Church

Mijas offers many shops selling beautiful and authentic Spanish souvenirs, but my favorite shop was Lo Artesano de Mijas (Plaza Libertad, 3). This tiny store had the most beautiful ceramic pottery and plates, and of course I had to add a few pieces to my collection back home.

Lo Artesano de Mijas on Plaza de la Libertad

Here are a few more photos of magical Mijas for your enjoyment.

Another quaint plaza

Carromato de Max, the miniatures museum , we didn’t stop in but this made for a great photo!

Typical Spanish souvenirs.

Calle San Sebastián

Enjoying the donkey tour.

Typical shop selling souvenirs.

Ayuntamiento de Mijas (Town Hall)

Another typical storefront.

Have you visited Mijas, and if you have, what was your favorite spot in this tiny, magical white washed town?

10Nov2014

Sesame Street Day!

Posted in Entertainment, Family by listen2mama

Well who knew there was a day dedicated to Sesame Street? I just recently found out and I have to say, it’s a great thing. Sesame Street Day was first established in 2009 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its original broadcast. While the special day was initiated in New York, it is now recognized by thousands of individuals from around the world. In fact, the number of followers continues to grow each year. Sesame Street debuted on November 10, 1969 and went on to become the most widely viewed children’s program in the world. I remember watching Sesame Street when I was 5 years old and of course it feels like yesterday that my teen daughter was watching Elmo and Zoe dancing on the screen. She loved that show so much, it was the theme for her second birthday party.

Here are some fun facts about the show that you may not know:

Big Bird’s height is 8’2.”
The Count’s birthday is October 9, 1,830,653 B.C.
In 1970, Ernie reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the timeless hit “Rubber Duckie.”
Ernie wears horizontal stripes on his sweater to make him appear more relaxed; while Bert wears vertical stripes on his sweater to make him appear more uptight.
Oscar the Grouch was originally orange, Grover was originally brown.
Big Bird’s teddy bear is named Radar, a nod to the character on MASH who always slept with a teddy bear.
James Earl Jones was the first ever guest star, he recited the alphabet.
All of the Sesame Street Muppets have four fingers, except Cookie Monster, who has five.
The episode with Mr. Hooper’s funeral aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983. That date was chosen because families were more likely to be together at that time, in case kids had questions or needed emotional support.
In a 2004 episode, Cookie Monster revealed that back before he ate his first cookie, his name used to be “Sid”.
Most people know Rosita as the only Hispanic Muppet on Sesame Street, but few know what she actually is, a fruit bat.
The main focus of Sesame Street is a 3 apartment brownstone building (Bert and Ernie live in the basement). The show itself is filmed in Astoria, Queens, but the actual location of Sesame Street has been under debate for years (intended to be a neighborhood in Manhattan).
And perhaps one fact that I found very interesting was that Snuffleupagus, spent fourteen years as Big Bird’s “imaginary” friend. Whenever adults would appear, Snuffy would vanish by way of coincidence, and the grownups would disbelieve Big Bird that he ever existed. Because nobody believed Big Bird about Snuffleupagus, and parents tended not to believe their children about imaginary friends, producers were afraid that this disbelief would lead to children being afraid to speak out about sexual abuse.

I’m sure we all know someone who has learned their colors and/or letters by watching this show. So, who is your favorite Sesame Street character? Mine and my daughter’s is still Zoe (and Elmo too!)

Her two favorites!

Listen2Mama

lifestyle. family. travel. food.

Author Archives: listen2mama

Stunning Santorini

Christmas Card Books

My Christmas Must Haves!

WHISK Gourmet

Monogram Jewelry

Happy Thanksgiving

Ms. Cheezious

Magical Mijas

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