A Mommy and Me Playdate in an Igloo

Mommy, is that where we are going?! Is that for me and B?!

~ Maverick

This pandemic is driving everyone crazy! It drove long-time gal pal, Mallory of MallorysManor.com, and me right into an igloo! Welcome to a Mommy and Me playdate in an igloo. Our little man date during the mandate. A perfect way to play with friends and family in your Covid-safe bubble! An igloo can work for pretty much any occasion. And, we have 5 easy steps to make it happen for you!

I have four kids. Every day, I try my best to carve out time with each child, because it is important for them to get that undivided attention. It makes them feel so important. I received this advice years ago from a seasoned mama whom I still admire to this day. It has stuck with me ever since. That is why I felt this igloo playdate would be a perfect opportunity for Maverick to experience his first-ever solo playdate away from his siblings. When we rolled up to the location, Maverick squeeled, ” Mommy, is that where we are going?! Is that for me and B?!” Insert {heart melting} right here!

Vyy Lu, the mastermind of Intimate Igloo and kick ass event planner, pulled her team together and drove out to our requested Great Falls location. They set up on Mallory’s land, where a beautiful, white manor will sit in the near future. By the time Maverick and I arrived, Mallory and her son were already there, dressing the igloo with festive, holiday decor! It was truly Christmas in a modern bubble, full of warmth from the fire place, coziness from the blankets, and holiday cheer with all the goodies Intimate Igloo provided (an instax polaroid camera, s’mores, and family board games). Mallory even brought a 5.5′ Santa Claus prop, but the boys were not too fond of him…they actually downright vetoed it and refused to enter the igloo until he was removed. Needless, to say, Santa was sent away to the shed.

mommy and me playdate in an igloo — Photo: Intimate Igloo

A little backstory for you. Mallory and I are friends of 25 years! Our love for music and arts originally brought us together in school, but years later, our connection grew so much deeper through the love we have in raising our children and being active and present mothers. We are, both, huge advocates in teaching our children through exploration, discovery and creative play. Witnessing our vision of this mommy-and-me igloo playdate go from concept to real-life has been an absolute dream for us! A powerhouse team of AMAZING, female-owned business partners helped make this come to life and I would recommend all of them any day of the week!

Vy Luu – Owner of Intimate Igloo
Regina Alvir – Owner of The Cornichon
Sarah Noelle – Photographer
Roxie Solis – Owner of Dollhouse Bakery
Mallory Debenedetto – Event Designer, Activity Coordinator, and Blogger
Jenny Goff Phillips – Event Coordinator and Blogger

(if viewing on mobile device, click on @letsbyjenny to view TikTok video)

@letsbyjenny
A PLAYDATE IN AN IGLOO!

♬ Let It Snow – Christmas Music

5 EASY STEPS TO HELP PLAN YOUR IGLOO EXPERIENCE!

The preparation for our mommy-and-me playdate took a couple weeks for us to pull together. We have already done all the hard work and planning for you and have simplified it into 5 easy steps!

1. CHOOSE YOUR REASON: Yes, you do need an igloo in your life! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! There are so many reasons as to WHY you need one. You just have to pick one! We needed to explain this to our husbands, so…we chose a holiday playdate! For your convenience, I have compiled a list of ideas as to how to get an igloo into your life. One thing Mallory and I both loved so much was how unexpectedly warm and cozy it was inside with the fire place heater so you can book in January and February, no problem!
  Anniversary
  Romantic date
  Family night
  Nat Geo Night
  Birthdays
  Micro Weddings
  Holidays Camp Out
  DIY Day
  Reunion
  Formal Dinner
  
  Stargazing
  Movie Night in an Igloo
  Instagram Photo Op
  Staycation
  Retirement Celebration
  Grandparents Day
  Soligavant Getaway Day
  Babymoon
  Nature Exploration
  Just Because You like Igloos
  
  Baby Sprinkle
  Girls Night Out
  Guys Night Out
  Rent 2 to hang with a family not in your Covid bubble
  Pop-Up Shop
  Father’s Day
  Mother’s Day
  Easter Egg Hunt
  Wine Tasting
2. CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY: Who do you want to share this experience with? The igloo comfortably fits up to 8 people. Mallory and I chose to do a single-kid playdate from each family to honor the mandate and also keep things stress-free and fun!
3. CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGE: Intimate Igloo has three package options with additional options to modify. Mention Let’s By Jenny or Mallory’s Manor when you book and get 15% off!! Prices range anywhere from $200 for a 3-hour “Naked Igloo” rental up to $500+ for a 12-hour “Ultimate Igloo” package! We chose the “Ultimate Igloo,” which included ALL of the following!:
  - Fireplace heater
  - Seating up to 8 guests
  - Full day rental (12 hours)
  - Storage ottoman
  - Ambiance decor and candles
  - Two cozy blankets
  - Center coffee table
  - Welcome board with a personalized message
  - Professional on-site assembly
  - Portable fire pit
  - S’more kit
  - Wireless speakers
  - String lights
  - Polaroid camera with film (10 images)
  - Game kit (includes 4 board games)
    Photo: Intimate Igloo
4. CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION: Intimate Igloo is a mobile pop-up experience so you will be responsible for scouting a location.
5. CHOOSE YOUR FOOD: Decide what kind of food you would like to have for this experience. Is it a sit-down dinner? Maybe a dessert bar? A casual movie night where you order pizza? We wanted to make sure the boys had something they could graze on in between running around, swinging on tree swings, and doing holiday activities. We also wanted to be Covid-cautious and have separate plates for them! So, here is what we came up with!

MOMMY-AND-ME CHARCUTERIE BOXES!

Regina Alvir, owner of The Cornichon, delivered a version of her “wine tasting box” with a twist, tailored for a little man’s palette. They were the cutest boxes that unfolded into a charcuterie spread of colorful goodness! It was perfect! The boys had their own separate tables with their own individual charcuterie trays! When I explained the list of his allergies to Regina, she completely understood and took the extra measure to separate the cheese to one side and wrap all of the nuts in a sealed bag so I would still be able to enjoy them. I really appreciated this. These charcuterie boxes range in sizes from $30-$200 and can be ordered on their website (click here), at LoudounGO (click here), or you can directly DM her on Instagram (click here).

GIVE ME S’MORE OF THAT!

We also indulged in some delectable s’mores which was probably the kids favorite activity! Mallory came baring gifts of buffalo checked, personalized s’more kits. She even went out of her way to find the specific brands that Maverick can eat (Enjoy chocolate bars and Pamela’s Gold Graham Crackers). It made him feel so…normal…so allergy-free. Oh, the magic of caring friends and a cozy igloo.

HOT COCOA BOMBS FOR THE MARSHMALLOWY WIN!

The spoiling didn’t stop there. When Roxie Solis of Dollhouse Bakery heard we had never had a hot cocoa bomb before, she gifted us with some of her infamous #dollybites! I must say, the excitement and anticipation leading up to the bomb bursting open, causing a mad rush of marshmallows to race to the top, was really fun! You can watch our experience here! And, if you get a chance, check out Dollhouse Bakery’s website to order some of these whimsically amusing treats. They come in so many different flavors, too!

When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.

~ Walt Disney

Towards the end of the night, we exchanged gifts and decorated petite, real trees to take home and remember this day by. Amongst all the other special moments Sarah Noelle was able to capture, my absolute favorite shot is the one above where Mallory and I were just so happy we did this, together, and for our kids. I am a believer that things happen for a reason in life. A cliff hanger for you…something else happened on this day that became an adventure in itself. You will have to stay tuned for an upcoming post to find out what happened!