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Wiggles Live 2012 Getting Strong Tour Dates

May 7, 2012 By sami Leave a Comment

Have you ever seen The Wiggles live? The 2012 Getting Strong Tour tickets go on pre-sale on May 8, 2012 and I wanted to share the tour dates with you.

DSCF1292 300x225 Wiggles Live 2012 Getting Strong Tour Dates

Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car!

Wiggles Live 2012 Tour Dates

SAN DIEGO CA – JUL 12
THOUSAND OAKS CA – JUL 14
LOS ANGELES CA - JUL 15
SACRAMENTO CA – JUL 17
TURLOCK CA – JUL 18
PORTLAND OR – JUL 20
CENTRAL POINT OR JUL 21
SAN JOSE CA – JUL 22
ANAHEIM CA – JUL 23
PHOENIX AZ - JUL 24
ALBUQUERQUE NM – JUL 25
TULSA OK – JUL 27
DALLAS TX – JUL 28
HOUSTON TX – JUL 29
ATLANTA GA – JUL 31
JACKSONVILLE FL – AUG 2
MIAMI FL – AUG 3
ORLANDO FL – AUG 4
TAMPA FL – AUG 5
NASHVILLE TN – AUG 7
INDIANAPOLIS IN – AUG 8
CHICAGO IL – AUG 9
DETROIT MI - AUG 10
HERSHEY PA – AUG 11
E. RUTHERFORD NJ - AUG 12
WALLINGFORD CT – AUG 14
HYANNIS MA – AUG 15
COHASSET MA – AUG 16
PHILADELPHIA PA – AUG 18
LONG ISLAND NY – AUG 19

Join Jeff, Anthony, Murray and Greg (yes, Greg is back!) as well as their Wiggly friends; Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and the world famous Wiggly dancers for this spectacular production!

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Fruit Salad, yummy yummy!

Even though I’m over 30, I’d venture to say the Wiggles live show is one of the best live shows I’ve EVER seen. When it comes to passions for their craft, energy invested and entertainment value – you simply can’t beat it!

DSCF1382 300x225 Wiggles Live 2012 Getting Strong Tour Dates

Here comes the band!

I don’t know what’s happened to yellow Wiggle Sam, but this is the first time since becoming ill 5 years ago that Greg will be reprising his role as the yellow Wiggle!

DSCF1338 225x300 Wiggles Live 2012 Getting Strong Tour Dates

Daredevils & Acrobats

I don’t know of any deals as of yet, but I do know that if you want to participate in the pre-sale, you need to be a part of their newsletter, “Wiggle Time”.

DSCF1399 225x300 Wiggles Live 2012 Getting Strong Tour Dates

The show ended with a bang!

Have you seen the show or are you planning to?

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, Events Tagged With: date, Events, Kids, live, Reviews, tour, wiggles

Disney Art of Animation Nemo Pool Video

April 29, 2012 By sami Leave a Comment

Continuing in our sneak peak into the Disney Art of Animation resort hotel, we move out of Animation Hall and out into the Nemo pool area!

You are literally made to feel as if you’re the size of Nemo swimming in the ocean, complete with larger than life coral and those pesky seagulls perched atop the neighboring hotel stairwell

Have you seen what it looks like to enter the lobby of Disney’s Art of Animation resort? Watch my Art of Animation lobby entrance video!

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: "art of animation", hotel, nemo, pool, resort, walt disney world

Top Walt Disney Dining Character Restaurants

April 29, 2012 By sami Leave a Comment

We often get asked our top Walt Disney Dining Character restaurants – so I thought I’d share them in one spot for you!

It doesn’t seem to matter how many times we eat at these Disney restaurants, they remain family favorites for their characters, service and food.

Keep in mind that my children are elementary age, but even when we go with three generations, we all have a great time.

Here are our top Walt Disney Character Dining Experiences:

1. Chef Mickey’s

Chef Mickey’s is a classic. Located in the original Disney World hotel, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s features the “Fab 5″: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy & Donald. Not only does the monorail run right through the Contemporary Resort, but you’ll see many pieces of classic Disney memorabilia while there, including a beautiful mural located just outside the elevator bay. You also don’t need a park ticket for this restaurant, so it’s great for days your starting or ending your vacation, or if you want to do the Disney experience without paying to go in a park!

2. Princess Storybook Dining at Askershus Royal Banquet Hall

Our favorite way to see the princesses by far! Princess Storybook Dining is located in Epcot’s World Showcase in Norway. Typically, you will be escorted in to see Belle right away for a picture (which you get to keep as part of your dining package) and then you sit down for your meal. We like to go for breakfast where you start with a continental buffet featuring some European favorites such as sliced meats and cheeses as well as fresh berries and bakery treats. Then a hot plate is served family style at your table with bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and a delicious potato casserole (everything is all you can eat). After your food is served, you typically get to meet five princesses, depending on the day. Though Cinderella is never promised, she has made an appearance her along with her friends. Some lesser-known ladies (though of no-lesser importance) like Pocohontas, Mulan and Mary Poppins have also been know to make an appearance. If you’re looking to see the princesses on a budget, this is a much more economical choice than the castle as well.

3. 1900 Park Fare – Supercalifragalistic Breakfast

Our original favorite, it’s hard to beat the breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. Located inside the Grand Floridian Resort, we’d go back time and time again just for the ambiance. The fact that this dining experience also happened to have our children’s favorite characters and great food didn’t hurt either With my mom being from England and my son named after her homeland (Britton), our kids grew up loving Pooh, Tigger and Mary Poppins especially – all who make an appearance here, along with Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter. The food doesn’t get much better than this at Disney World and you absolutely MUST try the Strawberry Soup!

4. 1900 Park Fare – Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner

It was hard to decide how to rank my third and fourth choices, which, as you can see happen to be at the same restaurant (just different meals!). If you return to 1900 Park Fare in the evening, you’ll be attending Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner, featuring none other than Cinderella herself, along with Prince Charming, her step-mother (Lady Tremaine) and her awkward (yet hysterical) step-sisters, Anastasia and Drizella. This isn’t your typical meet and greet. The step-sisters are very loud, boisterous and interactive. While we originally thought it might be too much for our then three year old son to handle, he eventually told us at the end of our first trip to this experience that it was his favorite meal of the entire vacation! I’ve already told you the food at Grand Floridian is fabulous and again, this is a much cheaper way to see Cinderella than the castle (and also doesn’t require a park ticket!)

Other favorites include The Garden Grill (at the Land Pavillion in Epcot) with its spinning restaurant and Mickey and friends dressed as farmers as well as a new favorite, Ohana (Polynesian Resort) where you can meet Lilo & Stitch and enjoy one of the most delicious juices we’ve ever tried!

You may be surprised that I didn’t mention Cinderella’s Royal Table…then again maybe you’re not if you’ve been following my logic! I believe everyone should eat at the castle once; it truly is magical. However the cost prohibits this frugal mom from venturing there more. When you can see the same characters at equally charming locations for a lot less money (and without having to buy a park ticket), I’d opt not to spend my money just on the castle…but that’s just me!

Here are just a few reasons we love character dining:
*You get to sit and eat (in air conditioning) while the characters come to you…as opposed to standing in line for hours on end in the Florida heat!
*You can see multiple (related) characters in one shot, instead of waiting in a lot of separate lines for individual characters
*Kids have longer to interact with the characters, instead of just a quick picture and autograph.

Granted, the best way to take advantage of Character Dining is when Disney is offering their Dining Plan for free! But if you aren’t lucky enough to visit Disney during one of those times, our other piece of advice is to schedule a late breakfast. It’s not only the cheapest meal of the day, but when you schedule one of the last sittings, you’ll stay full through lunch (think brunch) and also get more character interaction time because they’re not rushing off to visit anyone else!

What are some of your favorite character dining experiences?

Filed Under: Restaurants, Reviews, Travel, Travel Tips, Walt Disney World Tagged With: character, dining, experience, mickey, princess, review, walt disney world

Art of Animation Walt Disney Hotel Lobby Pictures & Video

April 28, 2012 By sami Leave a Comment

Tonight at Disney Social Media Moms, we got a sneak peak into the new Art of Animation Walt Disney hotel, and the first thing I wanted to show you was the lobby.

It’s an amazing combination of scenes from your favorite Disney & Pixar films, combined with the modern amenities we’ve come to love & expect from Walt Disney World hotels!

More pictures & videos will be coming soon, along with details from other parts of the new Art of Animation resort, the newest Value Resort on Walt Disney World property, featuring Nemo family suites to open on May 31, 2012!

For now, watch our Art of Animation arrival video

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: "art of animation", hotel, lobby, Travel, vaule, walt, walt disney world

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2012: On our way…

April 26, 2012 By sami Leave a Comment

Today we our on our way to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2012! We were fortunate to be invited back to this amazing event this year, and I can’t wait to share all that Walt Disney World is planning for its guests in the coming year!

I’m told that over the course of the four days, we’ll be learning more about all the Disney properties, including Disney Cruise Lines and the new resort in Hawaii, but what I’m most excited to hear about is the Art of Animation Hotel opening up in May 2012 (with many new family suites) and, of course, the new Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom!

I’ll do my best to keep you updated through Facebook, Twitter & Instagram along the way. Though we had to wake up before 4am, we still managed to have some fun along the way:

Special thanks to the Bible Bee for helping to sponsor this trip for me. I’m so excited for their Family Discipleship Program this summer! You can ask me for more details or read about how you can participate at FamilyDiscipleship.com!

Filed Under: Blogging, My Story, Travel, Walt Disney World Tagged With: 2012, celebration, media, moms, social, walt disney world

Walt Disney World Kids Travel Guide

April 26, 2012 By sami 4 Comments

I wish I had a Walt Disney World kids travel guide when my kids were small, so I wanted to share our Walt Disney travel tips with all of you as we leave today for the Disney Social Media Moms celebration!

Disney Stroller Rental

Renting strollers at Disney can get pricey. Currently, single strollers are $15 per day with double strollers at $31 per day (there is a slight discount for multi-day rentals and you can go from park to park without paying extra). While they are easy to maneuver, there is nowhere to store bags or cups, which is a bummer. Also, if you need a stroller outside of the parks, this can become a problem. I recommend bringing your own or looking into a local Orlando stroller rental company that will deliver to your hotel.

Disney Babysitting

Yes, I know I just prefaced this post with the fact that most people travel to Disney with their kids, but that doesn’t mean mom and dad can’t enjoy a night out while at Disney World, does it? There are several different Disney babysitting options, ranging from in-room care to clubhouses for older kids. Clubhouses start at $11.50/hour for the first child and are only available at certain Disney Resorts. You can contact Kids Nite Out for in-room babysitting prices.

Disney Rides for Little Ones

So you’re little one isn’t quite ready for Expedition Everest? (Don’t worry, my husband isn’t either!). Look at this list of Disney rides that are perfect for your Little Ones (and have FastPasses to boot! That means hardly any waiting in line!)

Disney Baby Care Centers

Looking for a place to change a diaper? Breast Feed? Buy those baby supplies you, I mean your spouse, left at home on accident? Just look for a Disney Baby Care Center in any of the parks. Here’s the full Baby Care Center list.

First Haircut

Did you know there’s a working Disney barber shop just inside the main gates of the Magic Kingdom? One of my favorite tips to share with families is to visit the Harmony Barber Shop for their child’s first haircut. For right around $15, kids not only get the authentic experience of a classic barbershop (and are usually coated in Mickey stickers!), but they also walk away with a special certificate commemorating the event, a lock of hair wrapped with Mickey confetti and a pair of Mickey ears with “First Haircut” stitched on the back! Even if your little one is too old for this, they can get their hair styled with some cool colors and Mickey confetti. A definite must!

Disney Playgrounds

One of my favorite Disney Freebies is all they playgrounds around Disney World Resort. What kid doesn’t love a playground? And when you mix it in with the different themed resorts, you can turn it into quite an adventure. Here is a list of all the different resorts with Disney Playgrounds.

A few other tips I’ve learned over the years:
For most families, traveling to Disney is a luxury that they have worked hard to achieve and have had to save lots of money in order to make it a reality. (Now here’s the tip). Most kids cannot grasp this fact. To them, Disney is the ultimate dream that they always knew they’d achieve. And while it’s fun, it can take the terms “excitement” & “exhaustion” to a new level!

So inevitably, you’ll find kids screaming and crying with parents hovering over them stressing out and yelling at them that they’re not allowed to cry at Disney.
Your kids don’t know that the average price of one of those twirly, spinning light things costs more than many of us make per hour.
Your kids don’t realize you’ve worked hours of overtime just to make this trip possible.
Your kids don’t understand that eating with Mickey Mouse costs more than you may spend on groceries in one week.

Don’t act like they should.

Instead, have a schedule so everyone knows what to expect, but at the same time, be flexible enough so that you can adapt when things don’t go exactly according to plan:
If it starts raining, don’t crowd under an awning for an hour: make a mad dash back to your hotel and take a nap.
If their favorite ride they absolutely must go on has a 60 minute wait, grab a fast pass and jump on the carousel instead.
If your bus doesn’t show up exactly when you thought it would, lead the line of fellow guests in a rousing rendition of “Be Our Guest”!

Most importantly, have fun & take lots of pictures!

What are your favorite tips and tricks that you would like to share when traveling to Disney with your little ones?

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel, Travel Tips, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Baby, guide, haircut, Kids, playground, stroller, Travel, walt disney world

The perfect office bag from eBags

April 23, 2012 By sami 1 Comment

I presented my friends at eBags with a challenge last year: find me the perfect office bag.

I knew if anyone could to it, they could.

If I have one weakness, it would be bags (well, maybe bags AND pens, but that’s another story altogether). Specifically, bags with lots of pockets that serve multiple purposes.

In fact, I think my exact words to them were something along the lines of “I need help finding the perfect bag that has the versatility and storage of a diaper bag, but the look & professionalism of a briefcase.”

And with that, my “Goldilocks & the Three Bears” type tale began in quest of finding one that was “just right”:

My first suitor was the Kayla Town Square bag. Ok, I’ll admit, I was unfairly blinded by my favorite color (a deep eggplant is what I actually have) and didn’t do much research after I saw it. But I was soon equally mesmerized by the amount of pockets, compartments and thought that went into the bag. This was truly a bag made by a traveler, for a traveler.

The bag is messenger style, but doesn’t really work in the same over one shoulder method you’d expect from the name. And dare I say, there are almost too many compartments (dramatic pause for audible *GASP* from the crowd). Instead of being more organized, at times I actually found myself losing track of items because I couldn’t re-trace the original logic I’d used to put things there in the first place.

Still, from the sturdy design, convenient water bottle extension pocket on the exterior and ample room for laptop and files, this bag has served me well. My only other major hangup was the fact that at conferences it became too heavy to carry on my shoulder once loaded down with informational pamphlets and obligatory exhibit hall freebies…

<Side note, I loved the companion Terrace mini-bag that came with it in my value pack; it’s a great addition that I take with me on evening meals after meetings and use instead of a purse when traveling>.

In an effort to alleviate my shoulder wear & tear, I next test-drove the Motherlode TLS 21″ Mini Wheeled Duffle. I was disappointed to find that it didn’t come in the same brilliant purple as my tote, so I settled for a stable sapphire blue. I had hoped to take it on a 4 day weekend conference locally, but quickly realized (after my hot rollers took up half of the main compartment) that it wasn’t going to be big enough to serve as both a work bag and a suitcase.

But on a recent plane trip, I opted to switch it out for my Kayla tote as my carry on. It has a great exterior zipper compartment that had ample space for my laptop (though not padded, FYI), but yet the interior gave me all sorts of configuration options to store a change of clothes, some toiletries & vitamins, books & magazines, and even the obligatory souvenir Starbucks mug we picked up in NYC and wouldn’t dare check in our suitcase! It also fit perfectly in the overhead bin of the plane.

If I had to be critical once again, it would be that it wasn’t the ideal work bag, since it didn’t have dedicated compartments for my notebooks & file folders…nor does it have all those handy little pen straps, business card pockets and other mini compartments for cords and such that I’ve come to know and depend on in my bags from eBags.

Enter in the mobile office…

Just hearing the name of it got me excited! In theory, it seemed to possess the best of both worlds I’d just described – the space and versatility of the office bag with the wheels and handle to easily tote it around!

But I didn’t have to just use the ‘in theory’ principal before ordering it off the website. This time around, I discovered my new favorite feature about eBags.com: their videos. Yes, for many of their bags by eBags, they actually have very in-depth (yet brief) videos with an actual human being demonstrating EVERY feature of the bag in real time. I cannot tell you how helpful this was in making my final decision!

I just got the mobile office in time for my trip to LA this past weekend and so far so good. A few of my favorite highlights thus far:
-The tall, retractable handle and wheels (but also the sturdy handle for lifting it in & out of vehicles and up on to the security screening).

-The a fore-mentioned mini-compartments with easy zipper access from the front of the bag.

-Separate larger compartments both for files/folders & the other for laptop and accessories.

And my favorite part: it includes both a customizable (in size) laptop carrying case/padding bag, as well as a removable file folder carrier! So insanely practical I can hardly stand it!

So there you have it. I’d like to think my quest is now complete, but I’m sure I’ll be equally enticed when eBags comes out with other new offerings. After all, how can I resist beauty and function that is so perfectly matched?

What about you, have you tried any of the above bags yet? Have you ventured to watch the informational videos? Did you even know they existed?

If you could pick your ideal bag by eBags, which would it be?

Ebags offered me these bags in an effort to try out their products and share what I discovered with you. I was not paid for this post and all of these opinions are my own (I mean really, I don’t have time to write someone else’s thoughts down!)

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, Products, Reviews Tagged With: bag, ebags, laptop, office, Travel

Free Disney Dining Plan 2012

April 17, 2012 By sami

Get a FREE Dining Dining Plan in 2012!

The Free Disney Dining Plan deal is back for 2012! I’m breathing a slight sigh of relief because I’ve recently convinced a couple friends to foreg0 booking a Spring Break Disney trip and instead going in the fall because it has smaller lines and they usually offer the Disney Dining Plan for free…and now I’m so thankful Disney has followed through!

FREE DISNEY DINING PLAN DETAILS

When: Arrive between August 25-September 29, 2012
Book by: May 19, 2012
What: Free Disney Dining Plan OR Free Disney Quick Service Dining Plan (if you stay in a Value Resort)

You can save almost $1,000 for a family of 4 on a six day vacation package with this deal (not to mention, not feel guilty about eating at some of the best Disney restaurants every day!).

Contact me if you need guidance in your Disney vacation planning. I offer group seminars as well as one-on-one consultations that will have your entire vacation booked and ready to go in under 2 hours!

Search for the best Walt Disney World discounts on Expedia right now!

Filed Under: Deals, Deals & Freebies, Travel, Travel Tips, Walt Disney World Tagged With: dining, disney world, free, Orlando, plan, Travel, walt disney world

Learning the “Balancing Act” at the Nashville Southern Women’s Show

April 12, 2012 By sami

Up until yesterday if you had asked me, I would have been quick to tell you that Sami Cone and the Southern Women’s show did not mix.

But when the “Balancing Act”(from Lifetime TV) asked me to come discover more about their 2012 Road Trip in conjunction with the show, I was eager to learn. I wanted to hear more about how they connect with their audience and who they partner with (after all, aren’t we all living our own “Balancing Act”?!)

My first surprise, however, was to discover that before you even enter the exhibition hall, you can experience the legacy of Princess Diana through a museum-quality exhibit that includes photos, videos and a collection of some of her iconic gowns, including the infamous “Travolta Dress” worn at the White House:

In fact, you can even take your own picture with Princess Di through the miracle of modern technology!

Once inside the expo, it wasn’t hard to find the pink pavilion and the “Balance Your Life” stage. I got right down to learning about the partners, such as Big Fish games & Moda by Sofia (activewear designed to fit a women’s curves – love!). I also had the chance to hear about the importance of Vitamin C through Altrient & meet Cheryl, one of the fittest women in the country:

One of the highlights of the pavilion was talking with Lynette of Demand Cures, one of the only charities that puts 99 cents of every dollar donated to the cause! A cancer survivor herself, you’ll be hearing more her and her story in an upcoming “Real Women” story:

To be honest, I was surprised to find what a big health component there was to the Southern Women’s Show! St. Thomas Health is even on site giving mobile mammograms that could be free based on your income (they also accept insurance).

But when I met Claire Ratliff of Laughing Penguin Publicity, publicist for Southern Women’s Show, I challenged her to tell me why the show is really worth my (and my readers!) time and money. After all, why would I want to pay to get in to an event that’s just trying to sell me something? (Or at least that was my perception).

Claire assured me the show was “more than just shopping, though many of the retailers offer very special discounts on their products during the show”. It’s more about coming to one place to encourage women to put themselves first, “we talk about doing it, but rarely put it into practice. The program features exhibitors who have something educational to offer to round out our lives”.

As soon as I heard ‘educational’, I perked up. As a perpetual learner, I’m always looking for people who help educate and challenge others to think about why they do what they do. She immediately took me to talk to Deidre Hall (you know, “Marlena” from “Days of our Lives” who was there to educate women and share her food & beauty books that she co-wrote with friend Lynne Bowman). What transpired over the next hour totally blew me away, but I’ll have to share that story a little later.
Both Deidre & Lynne are at the show all weekend, so be sure to stop by and tell them “hi” from me! You’ll also have to stop by to see my friends Greg & Twila at “Twila’s Boutique” and Stacey at “Miche Bags”.

I found out the show does cost $10 to get in, but you can get discount coupons at your local Kroger, plus I have another way for you to get your money back:
If you test drive a Chevy at the show, you’ll receive a $10 Starbucks gift card – so it’s almost like going to the show for free!

Have you ever been to a show such as this? What’s your take on it?

Filed Under: Events, My Story, Reviews Tagged With: balancing act, deidre hall, lifetime, nashville, show, southern, women

Nashville Easter Egg Hunts 2012, Red Caboose Park Egg Hunt & more

April 7, 2012 By sami

kids easter Nashville Easter Egg Hunts 2012, Red Caboose Park Egg Hunt & more Today is the day when you’ll find the majority of Nashville Easter Egg Hunts (April 7, 2012), including one of our favorites, the Red Caboose Park Egg Hunt (at the corner of 656 Colice Jeanne Road – just down from the Community Center & Bellevue Branch Library).

* Red Caboose Park

Starts at 11:15, but egg hunt times are separated by age:
Time:
11:15 – Toddler to Age 3
11:30 – 4 and 5 year olds
11:45 – K through 2nd Grade
12:00 – 3rd through 6th Grade

Free Snacks and Drinks provided by local churches. Also Games, Prizes, Face Painting, Washable Tatoos, Over 20, 000 Eggs

* Nashville Zoo

More than 40,000 plastic eggs will be distributed on the Zoo’s Festival Field for 10 scheduled hunts held throughout the day. Participants can redeem their eggs for exciting prize packs from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Festival Field Egg Hunt Schedule:
• Ages 2 & under: 10 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m.
• 3 years: 10:30 a.m. OR 1 p.m.
• 4 – 5 years: 11 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.
• 6 – 7 years: 11:30 a.m. OR 2 p.m.
• 8 – 10 years Noon OR 2:30 p.m.

There will also be a Zoo-wide hunt for larger, golden eggs also redeemable for prizes. Visitors can watch as Zoo animals hunt for special “eggs” hidden just for them. Other activities include Easter-themed games, bounce houses and face painting.

*Cheekwood

Egg hunts will be going on every 1/2 hour from 11a – 4pm (divided by age). Members are free.
Activities include:
• Community Project: Flowers & Friends
• Easter Ears
• Spring Seeds
• Bubbles & Blooms
• Butterfly Rings

Where will you be hunting today?

Filed Under: Deals & Freebies, Events, Events, Kids Tagged With: "Nashville Zoo", 2012, cheekwood, easter, egg, hunt, Kids, nashville, red caboose park