Over the weekend I totally earned the title of Cool Aunt of the Year Award. In fact, my sister-in-law earned Cool Mom of the Year Award because together (along with my other sister-in-law) we took my thirteen year-old niece and seven of her BFF’s to NYC.
We took them ice-skating in Rockefeller Center, shopped in total NYC style, ate at a fantastic Italian restaurant and topped it off with a trip to NBC’s candy store. Does it get more awesome than that?
Cool Mom and Aunts of the Year:
I recently read somewhere that the average material gift someone gives you has a shelf life of about 6-9 months. Basically, within a year of receiving that gift we thought was so special upon opening actually begins to fade away over time. However, the gift of sharing an experience with a loved one lasts much longer than a year. In fact, THAT is the kind of gift that memories are truly made of.
When I turned twelve, my parents took me to see my very first Broadway show. We saw Cats and did the whole dinner and theater thing together. To this day, it is one of the most memorable birthdays I’ve ever had. It was an experience that I shared with people I love and that’s exactly what my sister-in-laws and I were hoping to accomplish as we ventured into the city with these eight young teenagers.
As I wrote about before, Rockefeller Center is very special to me. It’s now confirmed that this experience will be added to the Rockefeller Center memory bank. I can’t tell you how excited these girls were to actually be in NYC and skate in that infamous rink. They were in awe of the buildings, lights, people and the energy. For some of the girls it was their first time on ice skates and for others, it was their very first time in the city.
Yes, sporting those adorable UGG boots and skinny jeans, this is the kind of birthday that my niece will remember for years to come and it’s a wonderful memory she made with some close friends that will last a lifetime.
And really, it just doesn’t get better than that.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Valentine’s Day! So this year ditch the chocolates and the flowers. Instead, make a memory – share an experience with someone you love and I bet you’ll remember it long after those roses start to wilt.
I fully agree that giving people experiences and memories over a gift is such a better idea. Some of my most memorable gifts weren’t material things at all. We try to do this with our kids as often as we can, but we should also do it more with other family members, too.
Heather that looks fabulous and yes those are the best gifts…the experiences. Those girls look ecstatic and seeing that pic brought me back to my own high school days in NYC! Thanks hon! So many memories.
I am with you that doing things is better than getting things every day. What a wonderful thing to remember!
This trip sounds like it was wonderful. I remember my dad taking me to plays at the Kennedy Center for my birthdays when I was growing up.
This sounds awesome! We love to give experiences as well. Our kids are just about grown and they remember the things we did together more than the iPod or cool sweater given to them. I wish we lived closer to NYC, I would love to take my youngest who is almost 18 for a visit.
For her 16th bday, we rented a limo (a surprise) and took 8 of her friends to a nice dinner and then to a teen club for the night. She will never forget that night!
My son is 20 and we gave him a 3 hour Nascar experience for Christmas. He goes in March and cannot wait!
Bernice
Experiences are truly the best gifts! Looks like an amazing time!!
I completely agree with you. Our of all of the gifts I’ve ever received growing up, there are only one or two that I can distinctly remember. Experiences and family adventures to who-knows-where are still vivid memories that I will always cherish. I’m hoping to bring our son up with the same experiences…it’s all about the moments, not the things. I’m pretty sure you neice will remember yesterday for a long time.
I completely agree that experiences are better than gifts but sometimes it seems that it is hard to find time for the experiences. It is easier to spend a few bucks on a present and not do anything else. I working on creating experiences my kids will remember rather than buying stuff that will most likely be thrown away. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with all those girls.
It sounds like you had a GREAT day!! I had no idea Uggs came in so many colors!!!
You are so on-the-money…experiences are what we remember, not things. It’s how the experience made you FEEL that is etched into the memory forever.
That’s why time you spend with loved ones is priceless.
What a great day! I can only imagine how excited all of those girls were!
I’m sure that it’ll be a day that they’ll all remember for a very long time! The things we do create some of the best memories!
wow, soooo true! what an amazing memory for those girls! and for you too!
You totally win the cool aunt of the year award! I totally agree that experiences are so much more meaningful than anything material you can buy!
Your “Cats” birthday treat was my “Phantom of the Opera” at 14. I remember it well.
And, wow, eight 13 year-olds on this outing? You are up for Aunt of the Year in my book
Very, very cool! I love activity/memory making gifts. Good job!
Oh, this is so very true, and yet difficult to remember when the gift-giving holidays are upon us. Maybe you will tag back to this later this year as a reminder??
I can’t imagine what a trip to NYC would be like. (It’s on my bucket list.) ;o)
That is an absolutely fantastic idea.
I used to live in NY for years and can attest that it is a magical city (especially with a cool aunt and cool mom).
What an amazing gift you gave, they will all remember it for years to come I’m sure.
What a great idea for a birthday celebration, it sounds like you guys had a great time! I agree with you about making memories together, those are the gifts that really last a lifetime. My husband and I have been trying to convince our whole family to ditch the Christmas presents in favor of going on a family vacation one year to spend Christmas on the beach. Those memories will be far more precious than anything that comes in a box.
Heather, you look amazing and I love the scarf so much! What a wonderful memory for all of you!
You definitely rocked the awesome aunt role! I have really young aunts that are only a few years older than me & they are the bomb! They used to do the coolest stuff with us! Now that I’m an adult, they are my friends!
Happy Valentine’s Day Heather!
well this looked like fun, I can’t wait until the day I can visit NewYork. What a dream thanks for sharing
Great post!! Your absolutely right we remember events far longer than material things. A good reminder to spend time with our loved ones.
That sounds amazing. It’s funny, I was just thinking that I want to take a break from birthday parties for the kids this year and just take them somewhere special instead. Memories last a lifetime.
Aunt-of-the-Year, indeed. I represent the fictional Big Leg Society, and I would like to say that someday Ugg boots and skinny jeans will not be in style. By then, I’ll be wearing polyester and moomoos, so it doesn’t much matter…
What a fun day! They will definitely remember that forever. Love it!
Whenever you write about going into the city I remember the time your son had that allergic reaction. I still feel the fear you instilled in that post! So thanks for now giving me a moment of heart failure whenever you write about trips into the city!
This is so true. My MIL came for Christmas, she is going through a divorce, and said she wasn’t buying anybody presents, we were going to make a memory. Just as you said. She got the whole family tickets to see Stomp in the city. We had an amazing day.