An authentic source for moms and families on everything from parenting, food, travel and more!
Monster Jam’s 2019 Season kicked off with a bang! L and I headed to Monster Jam headquarters here in Florida for an exclusive tour of the garage. We learned how the company builds the monster trucks – including hands-on demos, then stuck around for the Livestream where they revealed the brand new Fire & Ice Monster Trucks to fans everywhere! Check out the recap video included in the post for all the details.
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
Looking for a weekend getaway from Central Florida’s hustle and bustle? Head to Alden Suites St Pete Beach for a Gulf-front family run hotel that offers you the perfect escape! With its magnificent, sweeping views of the Gulf of Mexico and oversized, fully equipped suites, Alden Suites Beachfront Resort is the perfect destination, and here’s why!
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own. Some photos courtesy of Alden Suites Resort.
Over the summer the boys and I headed North to Atlanta, Georgia for some sightseeing. My husband was attending the Ron Clark Academy for a few days so we joined him on the road for some fun family travel. Because of my Type-A personality, it was important for me to have a plan prior to arriving, so I researched the best attractions in Atlanta. Here’s how you can get the most bang for your buck in Atlanta in just a few days!
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
As a born and raised Floridian, who’s lived in Central Florida for 30 years, I’ve had the luxury of frequenting a variety of Orlando Florida hotels. My boys and I know the term “staycation” very well as a majority of our summer is spent traveling throughout Florida. We’ve collected some of our favorite spots including water park hotels and theme park resorts in this Best Orlando Hotels round-up! If you’re visiting the Orlando area, you’ll definitely want to check out these preferred resorts.
Did you know Orlando gets nearly 3 times as many visitors as Las Vegas? It’s true, according to VisitOrlando, an official travel source. As Orlando continues to grow in visitor volume, the hotels in the area have to keep up with demand. There are a variety of hotels and resorts to choose from, but these 10 are the best of the best in our personal opinion. Read on for details!
Did you know there’s a top secret Disney location in California? It’s so secret that the address is hidden from Google Mapquest! Typically available to Disney staff members, the Animation Research Library is a vault with more than 65 million pieces of original Disney artwork! Because the ARL is considered Walt’s “secret weapon” the staff takes great care in preserving every piece of artwork.
Disney is currently celebrating the 65th Anniversary of Peter Pan’s release, so our tour was themed around that film’s artwork. The ARL is not open to the public, so enjoy this special inside look of the facility!
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
Growing up in Orlando allowed me the unique opportunity to visit the Walt Disney World parks more often than out of town guests. That led to a deep love for all things Disney, especially the films! The Little Mermaid released in 1989 and became my all-time favorite Disney princess film to date. My dream came true a few years ago when Disney invited me to the west coast to cover the re-release of TLM, this time on Diamond Edition. Ever since, I’ve flown out a few times a year to cover other films, most recently for SOLO: A Star Wars Story, and A Wrinkle in Time. And during my last visit, I was invited for a special tour of Walt Disney’s office!
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
The Great LEGO Race is Legoland’s first VR Roller Coaster – and it’s officially ready to ride! Ashlee and her family visited Legoland Florida during the grand opening of the new ride and experienced the virtual reality coaster before the park opened. Learn about LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s newest attraction below – and why you and your family should go experience it for yourself!
Ashlee was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are her own.
Head to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Day at Sea aboard Disney Cruise Line! The epic day at sea returns to Disney Cruise Line with 15 special Disney Fantasy sailings to the Caribbean from January through April in 2018, and from January to early March in 2019! Star Wars Day at Sea summons the power of the Force, the magic of Disney and the excitement of cruising for an out-of-this-galaxy experience unlike any other. My son and I had the amazing opportunity to experience the Star Wars Day at Sea adventure just a few days ago.
Take a foodie tour through one of Florida’s most popular beach destinations! The 1920’s were a ‘hot’ time for Jax beach – where the likes of John D. Rockefeller, F.D.R., Al Capone and Jean Harlow were rumored to have visited the alluring tourist town. It’s boardwalk, dance casinos, dining, amusement rides and wide beaches were known throughout America. A lot has changed throughout the years, but one thing remains the same: Jacksonville Beach is a top destination for families and couples alike. Check out this foodie tour of the best Jacksonville Beach Restaurants below!
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Take a getaway to the Western Caribbean! We had such an amazing time on our seven day cruise aboard Carnival Glory for New Years. We visited four ports during the cruise including the Cayman Islands, Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. The Caribbean has four seasons of warm weather, so no matter what time of year you book, you’ll enjoy beautiful sunshine! Get ready to pack your bags after this Carnival Glory Western Caribbean Excursions overview.
Thanks to Carnival for partnering with us. All opinions are my own.
Myself along with 2 blogger friends hit the road this summer in the 2017 Mazda CX-9. We flew into Anaheim then made our way down the southern California coastline to sightsee before our D23 Expo adventure. If you’re planning a trip to California sometime soon, check out our southern California road trip for inspiration.
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Do you have a bucket list of items you hope to do in your lifetime? I do too, and one of those things was checked off my list recently; attending the #D23Expo! This bi-annual conference brings Disney fans together for an exciting 3 days filled with amazing breaking news, musical performances, special guests straight from the films, and so much more! If you’re a Disney fan, you’ll definitely want to check out this D23 Expo recap post including video from the event!
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
It’s summer, summer, summer time! If you’re beach bound with the family this summer, you’ll definitely want to check out this list of must-haves to pack for a beach vacation. Our list includes practical items you’ll need for summer traveling that you won’t want to leave behind. Read on for more!
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
This quintessential Disney fan is headed to D23 Expo for the first time! Wondering what D23 Expo is all about? It’s the ultimate Disney fan event for anyone who loves Disney, Marvel, and Pixar! Follow myself along with 24 other bloggers as we fan girl (and guy) this special bi-annual event. Read on for more details!
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
Ever wondered what it’s like to be on a real race track? I’m not talking about watching a race from the bleachers – I mean burning rubber on the tracks! If you love NASCAR, racing, or cars in general, this post is going to rev your engines! Recently while attending the Cars 3 press event, I had the opportunity to tour Sonoma Raceway, see real life race cars up close and personal, take a few laps around the track and so much more. Read on for details!
I was invited as media to cover this event. All opinions are my own.
Disney Pixar Animation Studios is located near San Francisco, California. Touring the 16 acre campus is truly a magical experience! During the Cars 3 Press Event, I had the opportunity to tour the grounds for 2 days. Yep TWO! It’s no wonder Disney Pixar produces such amazing box office hits – their campus is dreamy!! Join me for a Pixar Studios Tour and see for yourself.
I was invited as media. All opinions are my own.
Are you dreaming of setting sail on a cruise? Our family of four recently visited the Bahamas aboard the Carnival Valor ship and had the most amazing time! Today, I’m sharing the highlights of our cruise in this Carnival Valor cruise review. Check out the staterooms, onboard activities, spa, dining and much more!
Carnival Camp Ocean is a kids parents dream! Okay, maybe it’s a dream for both parties. 😉 So what is Camp Ocean? It’s the ultimate place for kids to play, while parents spend some quality time relaxing and enjoying the ship at their leisure. Geared towards kids ages 2-11, Camp Ocean is a supervised age-based space for kids aboard the ship….and it’s FREE!
Cruising is one of the ultimate travel adventures, but remembering everything to pack can be stressful. If you’re wondering: “what should I pack for a cruise?” you’ve come to right place! Here’s a must-have Carnival Cruise packing list to keep you focused on setting sail, and relaxing in style.
Planning a visit to St Simons Island, Georgia? Don’t forget to check out this list of FREE things to do on St Simons Island! One of 13 major islands in the chain located on the southern tip of Georgia and Florida’s northern coastline, St. Simons Island is the largest at roughly 40 miles in length. This small, quaint town boasts salt marshlands, beachside views, historic landmarks and so much more!
This is part 3 of our Carnival Cruise Bahamas series. If you missed the first 2 posts, check them out here: book a Carnival Cruise and foodie favorites. Now it’s time to talk about Carnival Nassau & Freeport excursions! After all you’re cruising to somewhere, right? So you might as well embrace the destination by partaking in a fun activity or two! Here’s some of our favorite Carnival Bahamas excursions.
Let’s face it – part of the reason you book a cruise is for their amazing food, right?! It’s like a foodies paradise. Get ready to indulge with this Carnival Cruise Foodie Guide, specifically the Carnival Valor ship!
Do you love to travel? If you’ve never cruised before, it’s time to book a Carnival cruise! Why, do you ask? The customer service is OUTstanding, you can visit dream destinations, dine at gourmet restaurants, and be entertained the entire time! Our family of four recently visited the Bahamas aboard the Carnival Valor ship and had the most amazing time. It was our youngest son’s first cruise, and our older son was too young to remember his first experience, so it was exciting to see the adventure through their eyes. Read on for details on why you should book your first cruise with Carnival Cruise Line.
Plan the perfect beach getaway to the beautiful, historic area of St. Simons Island, Georgia! One of 13 major islands in the chain located on the southern tip of Georgia and Florida’s northern coastline, St. Simons Island is the largest at roughly 40 miles in length. This small, quaint town boasts salt marshlands, beachside views, historic landmarks and so much more! If you’re looking for a luxury getaway, there’s no place like The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island.
Shiny cars on the lot, a salesman, and finance department. Yep, I’m talking about car buying today. Finding the perfect car can be stressful, especially when it’s your first time. If you’re just starting to build credit, you will most likely need to buy something more practical than perfect. Once your credit is more established, you can consider upgrading to your dream car.
I was invited as media for a 2 night stay at Innisbrook Golf Resort. All opinions are my own.
Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, guys’ golf vacation, or family trip – Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort is the perfect destination! The Salamander property is just 30 minutes from the Tampa airport, and 2 hours from one of Florida’s top destinations – Orlando. The multi-award winning property boasts 900 wooded acres, beautiful lakes and lush greenery.
DriveShop loaned me this vehicle for review. All opinions are my own.
During our family reunion in the Chicago area, we had the opportunity to test drive the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Our family of four comfortably rode around the city and suburbs in this crossover vehicle. Some of our favorite features, which will be highlighted below, are the panoramic glass roof with LED mood lighting, smooth ride, and killer gas mileage. Those are 3 must-haves for any good road trip, am I right?
