Family

Zoo Day with Kids at the Philadelphia Zoo, Urban Green and Wild Works

Jun 10, 2019

Zoo Day

Our zoo day was long overdue. The Philadelphia Zoo has so much history as it opened in 1874. Although I do not remember going to the zoo as a child it is one of the places we went for family time. I think my last visit with my tween was nine years ago. The zoo is an ideal trip for family with over 1,000 animals and over 500 plant species.

*I received complimentary tickets free of charge(all opinions shared are my own) and decided to make Sunday a zoo day. The day was perfect thanks to the weather. I was able to convince both kids to go. We had a great time going through the different exhibits. I really love the fact the zoo continues to make additions to the zoo. The zoo offers a trail exploration called Zoo360 that includes a network of see-through mesh trails. It was really cool to see animals so close up roaming through the trails overhead. Another addition is the urban green which is beautifully landscaped with outdoor seating and a number of food trucks plus an ice cream stand.

I know we covered the entire zoo visiting the Big Cat Falls, Outback Post, Primate Reserve, KidZoo, McNeil Aviation Center, Reptiles and Amphibians, and much more.

Urban Green

Wild Works

The other addition includes Wild Works which is an ariel rope course. My tween loved the zip lining part of the course.

Another favorite around the zoo is the Lego exhibits, these are phenomenal.

Lastly, the card keys are back! These brought back memories. A real educational experience as you unlock stories from the animal keepers.

On the next visit, we have to pack our lunch and download the zoo app to assist with navigating all the activities for the day. If you’re looking for a fun and engaging family activity during the summer definitely plan a trip to the zoo.

If You’re Planning Graduation Events, Check Out My Review of Basic Invite

May 17, 2019

My teen graduates on June 12th and I found some great ideas from Basic Invite for announcements, party invitations, and thank cards. The Basic Invite site allowed me to customize the colors, font, and font size of each sample.

Graduation Announcements, Invitations and Thank You Cards

I ordered samples of a 2019 photo card, a graduation party invitation, and a thank you card in my son’s school colors.

Why Basic Invite?

I ordered samples and they shipped within seven days. The idea of customizing my invitations makes it very unique to my style and taste. The first thing I noticed when I opened the samples was the paper quality. It was very easy to customize each item, specifically with my son’s school colors. The color palette offers a hue to fit all designs. The website is very easy to navigate for designing and editing.

I ordered the envelopes in white. Basic Invite envelopes are available in over forty different colors. Another added bonus with the envelope is they are peel and seal. There is no unpleasant taste from licking envelopes. Basic Invite will print envelope with guest information and return addresses at no charge. There is an additional charge per envelope with the return address only.

Basic Invite offers an address capturing service. The service allows the sender to share a link on social media platforms for guests to submit their addresses. Basic Invite will store the addresses under the sender’s account. During the design of the invitation, the sender can select the addresses from the list.

For an added design touch, some invitations are available with silver, gold or rose gold foil that is either flat or raised.

If you are hosting graduation festivities and in need of invitations, Basic Invite offers designs to fit every occasion. Congratulations to the Class of 2019.

Placing an Order

You can find all the links below for various invitations:

high school graduation invitations

graduation party invitation templates

graduation photo invitations

If you place an order, you can save 15% with the code 15FF51

Notecards

I could not resist designing additional stationery for my blog with notecards. My design includes my blog colors. The paper stock is great quality and I plan to order more.

Birthday Invitations and Thank You Cards

I designed birthday invitations and thank you cards for my 50th.

All the stationery is perfect for all events.

“This blog post was sponsored by Basic Invite”

Monkey Bread for Dessert with the Perfect Recipe

Apr 23, 2019

For desserts, I always check Pinterest for “the best of ______”. I tried Monkey Bread years ago and I was not overly impressed with it. It was so long ago I do not remember if it was the brand of biscuits used or the ratio of brown sugar and butter. The best Monkey Bread I had was at the shore during a summer getaway. This dessert must have the caramelized topping and moist center to wow me.

This recipe was perfect. I used 2 cans of Pillsbury flaky biscuits. My bundt pan is metal and heavy so I adjusted the temperature to 325F.

The recipe is simple and you probably have everything on the shelf except for the biscuit dough. You will need 2 cans of biscuit dough, sugar, cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar. You can find the recipe on the link below.

Thank you to The Diary of a Real Housewife for this yummy recipe.

Recipe

Greased the bundt pan

2. Cut each biscut in fourths, added to a freezer bag with sugar and cinnamon,

3. Melted 2 sticks of butter with brown sugar

4. After layering biscuit dough and butter/brown sugar

5. Simple Delicious, definitely our go-to recipe for monkey bread.

2019 Philadelphia Flower Show – “Flower Power”

Mar 21, 2019

*I received tickets free of charge. All opinions shared are my own.

After growing up in the city, this was my first Philadelphia Flower Show. The floral designs throughout the show representing various countries were beautiful works of art. The FTD World Cup was the top attraction of the flower show from March 1st to 3rd. The 2019 Interflora World Cup Champion was Bart Hassam, Austria. I tried to capture a few of the designs as I walked through taking in everything.

I love flowers for adding a nice decorative touch to any room. They are also good to boost my mood. Aetna offered a both for mindfulness. The idea was to use all of your senses for the exhibit.

In addition to the floral designs, there were exhibits with various competitors for terrariums, succulents, cacti, bonsai, and foliage. In the bonsai exhibit, there was an attendee who provided information on the bonsais.

The Power of the Seasons displayed each season with items that were representative of the senses for each season.

This is a nice event for the entire family. Everything under one roof, exhibits, vendors selling everything from fresh flowers, household accessories, to jewelry. There are also food vendors as well. I am looking forward to next year’s theme.

My Paris Weekend in 2011 and Planning for New Travel Memories

Mar 7, 2019

My weekend in Paris was far too short. I would love to see more of Europe…Amalfi, Italy is calling me…..

My First Transatlantic Flight

In September 2011, I took my first international flight. My company sent me to France for a meeting in Annecy, France(southern France). I had no idea what to expect on a 6 hour flight. My first thoughts: what will I do for all those hours? besides sleep. Typically, I can’t sleep on a plane but I was thinking based on the distance I would have to rest a little. As an amateur international traveler, I purchased a blanket and travel pillow(not needed). US Airways provided a travel pillow and blanket. I was lucky enough to sit with a lady from the MidWest who was traveling with a girlfriend(sitting in first class) on a girls trip throughout the French countryside. It was an evening flight so the airline served dinner and there were movies, tv series and other forms of entertainment during the flight. My seat mate and I covered everything from marriage, divorce, kids, grandkids, careers and travel. It was her first trip to France so she was pretty excited as well.

Hello Paris

When I arrived in Paris, it was early morning so we had a delicious pastry. I have to admit there was a lot of anxiety with traveling such a long distance but a wonderful opportunity to discover another culture. In order to experience two cities in France, I flew into Paris and take a train (4-hour train ride) to Annecy. I figured on my return trip I would be able to spend two nights in Paris which was a great idea.

US Traveler in French Train Station

When I arrived at the train station it was overwhelming with all the people and the languages in the background. Unfortunately, I wasted time looking for a terminal, which we call a kiosk to print my tickets so I missed the early train. My tickets were prepaid and waiting for pick-up. I had to wait a few hours for the next train and hoped my taxi at the Annecy station would still be able to pick me up.

Arriving in Annecy

Annecy, at last, is how I felt, next task was to find someone at the train station who spoke English so I was able to call the taxi driver since I arrived late. Whew, there was someone after a French passenger helped me find a railway employee who was able to call my driver.

My Annecy Hotel and Jet Lag

The driver arrived with my company sign and I identified myself. Wow, was I in shock to learn that a French taxi is an S class Mercedes(my Carrie Bradshaw moment). I finally exhaled on my way over to my hotel, which was the Palace de Menthon. When I looked at the pictures online I was in awe with anticipation. The ride to the hotel gave me a beautiful view of Lake Annecy which was the most beautiful body of water I ever witnessed. The drive up to the entrance of the hotel was like a scene from a movie.

Palace de Menthon

The hotel was like something in a travel magazine. I proceeded to take everything in with my Ipad. The only thing I wanted to do was crash, however, I was advised to stay up to beat the jetlag. Dinner was scheduled in town so when I arrived it was time to get ready for dinner. One thing to note if traveling to Annecyis its close proximity to the Swiss border. Most of my colleagues flew into Geneva but I opted to fly into Paris for a weekend on my return to the states. The four hour train between Paris and Annecy was well worth the scenery.

Annecy and Paris

This trip was long before I knew how to capture every moment. I missed so many meals and they were divine. This was the first time I tried foie gras and duck. Some of mpicturesos of my Paris weekend are captured below. I have to dig for my pictures of Annecy. The town was so quaint and filled with such character. From the cobblestone streets, architecture, and the view of Swiss Alps from my hotel was breathtaking. I loved the experience and am looking forward to more European travel with all of my equipment to capture each moment.

A Weekend in Paris

It was too short. There were so many things I missed such as The Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Louvre. The weather was beautiful for walking the streets of Paris. A lot to plan for my next trip.

Au revoir Paris until we meet again🇫🇷

Vacation Destinations for Single Parents and Kids

Feb 18, 2019

Vacations Destinations for Single Parents and Kids

I had no idea resorts offer deals for single parents traveling with kids. If you are planning trips for spring break or summer travels here are some great tips. These are places worth checking out for a travel package. I also learned some properties charge a single person supplement fee for one adult. The fee can be 10 to 100 percent of the standard accommodation charge. I found some that charge a single person supplement fee.

Sonesta Hilton Head
This hotel offers a supervised kids club, Just Us Kids program includes game time, entertainment, swimming, and arts and crafts. Half day or Full day passes are offered for an additional fee. The Family Package, a 2-night minimum required includes a $50 F&B credit and a $50 Leisure Activity Credit. the Leisure credit can be applied to bike rentals, kids camp or other on-property activities. Children ages 19 and under stay free if staying with an adult.

Vacation Express Smile Resorts
all-inclusive resorts, kids 2 to 12 eat and stay free. There is a single person supplement fee.

Beaches Resorts
This resort offers Single Parent Fun Months during specific months throughout the year. The single person supplement fee is waived.

Grand Velas Single Parent Getaway
This property offers deals periodically when the single supplement is waived.

Hotels with Deals

Holiday Inn
Kids up to 19 stay free when sharing their parent’s room. Eat free applies to up to four kids 12 and under at any time of the day.

Choice Hotels
Kids stay free up to 18 if sharing the room with parents or grandparents.

Kid-Friendly Cruise Lines

MSC Cruise Lines
A cruise line that offers an All in One package for Single Parents.

Disney Cruise Lines
For single parents who need a short break, 3-4 day trips are offered. The cruise offers many activities for kids and adults.

Royal Carribean
The cruise ship offers the Dreamworks Experience with their favorite characters and Sitters at Sea program.

I sourced all of this information from this website

Do you have a favorite vacation destination with your kids?

Single on Valentine’s Day is a Good Reason to Celebrate Love for Self

Feb 12, 2019

Single on Valentine’s Day

I think I missed the memo that being single on Valentine’s Day is a curse. During this time each year, I see articles coaching people on how to cope with being single on Valentine’s Day. Don’t get me wrong I like the idea of celebrating with the one you love. However, being single on Valentine’s Day is no reason to be sad. I feel like it gives a reason to celebrate doing something special for yourself.

If You’re an Ex

A few weeks ago I saw on the news how to celebrate Valentine’s Day if you have an ex. Now there are activities if you have an ex, a zoo in El Paso Texas allows people to use ex’s name for a cockroach which is then fed to a meerkat. Hooters offers a coupon for ten free boneless wings by completing an online quiz and shredding an ex’s picture. All of this negative energy is no for me. Just move on and channel this energy to celebrate YOU!

My thoughts as a single woman and the idea of stressing over Valentine’s Day brings a few questions to mind. What happened to the idea of celebrating love every day? Why is being happy and loved dependent on being in a relationship? Is it possible to love yourself and love your time alone? Do we spend enough time loving ourselves? Are we emotionally and spiritually ready to share with another person? Why have standards and expectations become irrelevant?

Love Jones

One of my favorite movies is Love Jones. After watching the movie multiple times, I realized how much I missed in my 20s and 30s. I know now experiences should have no regrets or settle for less. My takeaway from the movie is the fact a loving relationship requires time, mutual respect, unconditional love, patience, and work. It was also eye-opening to see how much time is wasted when we are not clear with expectations.

My mantra is to CELEBRATE ME every day of the year.

Ways to Treat Yourself for the Month and Beyond

Book a relaxing massage at a local spa
Schedule an appointment for a facial
Plan a treat to a special pedicure and manicure
Order a dozen of roses for the month and for a real splurge order LeFleur roses (on my 50 wishlist)
Buy a box of favorite chocolates(Turtles are my favorite)
Make dinner reservations at a favorite restaurant

Mexican Food and Dining Out at Xolo Tacos with Kids

Feb 8, 2019

Mexican food is one of my favorite cuisines. Dining out at XoloTacos was a great night. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. The food was outstanding with every bite. We capped off dinner with dessert which was worth every calorie.

Every dish had fresh ingredients and the crispy empanadas were outstanding. I cannot wait to visit again and try the Mahi Mahi tacos, soup, a margarita, and dessert.

How I Save on Shopping at Target with the Cartwheel App

Feb 1, 2019

In October 2018, a mini Target opened across the street from us. Most of my purchases at Target are for essential items like toilet paper, feminine products, body wash, paper towels, napkins, paper plates, and food items.

I am intentionally using my Cartwheel app on every visit because of the savings. In addition to saving on specific items, I realized some online prices are lower than the store. In this case, I ask an associate to adjust the price before I check out.

If you are a regular Target shopper, it pays to download this app. The best way is to scan the UPC code on each item as you shop.

The shop section allows you to shop by category, weekly ad & catalogs, or cartwheel offers. If you click on the cartwheel offers and select a product it will add it to your “My List”.

When I click on “Wallet” I can scan at self-checkout before I hit Pay. If checking out in line, make sure the sales associate knows to scan your code so the savings are deducted.

On the my profile, I can set my store, using the store locator. It alslo lists my online order history, favorite items to track (click on the heart of an item), payment cards, gift cards, ship to addresses, and manage REDcard. Since I started using the app in 2015, I saved $142.66 and redeemed 316 offers.

Journaling & Notebook Doodles Journal Giveaway

Jan 29, 2019

*received journals free of charge for review purposes only. All opinions shared are my own.

JOURNALING

I remember having a diary as a tween and cherishing every written word. A few years ago, I started keeping a journal but I was not consistent. Do you keep a journal? How do you stay consistent? Journaling is a daily exercise of using a diary or journal to capture ideas and thoughts of life’s events. One of the benefits of journaling is it creates an outline of goals and bringing the goals to reality.

NOTEBOOK DOODLES

These journals are a perfect gift for a tween girl. In the new year, journals are great for writing down thoughts, ideas, and setting goals. The journal cover is colorful and artsy. I love that each journal page has insightful statements and questions to encourage girls to write about themselves. It is a wonderful tool for daily inspiration and encouragement. One of the best parts of the journal is the self-confidence building exercises of on each page. Girls can get inspired by writing about their lives, hopes, and dreams. It is like having their own vision board in writing.

The journals are hardbound, 200 pages, acid-free paper that is ideal for pen or pencil.

My twelve-year-old grabbed the Love, Peace, and Music journal.