Britney Dearest

/ Monday, October 2, 2017

Slay A Busy Day: 6 Tips For First-Year Substitute Teachers

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #SnackHonestly #CollectiveBias</div>
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During the past five weeks, I have been spending a few days per week substitute teaching at various local schools. Yep! I'm a "newbie". In those few weeks, I quickly realized there were things I needed to do to improve my day, such as adding extra supplies to my substitute bag and reenergizing myself before and after lunch. Below, you'll find tips that have helped me so far!</div>
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<b>1. Bring your own supplies. </b>During my school years, I recall seeing the substitute teachers in my classes carrying their own personal bags of supplies, so before my first day of substituting, I knew I wanted to make sure I came prepared with supplies that either I or the students would possibly need at some point. In my bag I keep:</div>
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-A clipboard that I carry around with me throughout the day. It usually has a class roster as a reference to help me remember students names, the class schedule, dismissal procedures, and a piece of notebook paper to write down a daily report of events.</div>
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-Coloring and craft supplies. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, and scissors.</div>
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-Sticky notes.</div>
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-Dry erase markers.</div>
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-Extra pencils and pens.<br />
-Notecards.</div>
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-Hypo-allergenic facial wipes for quick hand or face cleaning for myself or the students and facial tissue.</div>
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-My planner.</div>
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-Snacks (more on that below!).<br />
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<b>2. Arrive early greet the students as they come in, and introduce yourself.</b> As with any job, arriving early is very beneficial. As a substitute, arriving early give you extra time to look over the schedule and lesson plan and prepare supplies as necessary and also to look over the school safety plans so that you know what to do if, forbid, a serious emergency ever occurred.</div>
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<b>3. Follow the home teacher's instructions. </b>So far, I have not entered a class where the teacher did not leave a detailed schedule or assignments from a lesson plan, however, I know that there may be a time where I may not have detailed instructions. Usually, there is a substitute binder with general classroom notes and worksheets that students can complete.</div>
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<b>4. Have a snack.</b> Although I genuinely enjoy my new responsibilities, I have to admit that by the end of the day, as proud as I am to have made it through the day after interacting with students and helping them learn, I'm equally as exhausted. Thankfully, I was recently introduced to <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honest Tea®</a> and <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lorissa's Kitchen</a> beef snacks, a perfect snack pair that's both appetizing and better for you than snacks that are high in sugar and preservatives. During my students' special classes; music, art, and P.E. and recess, I can re-energize during my quiet time with a snack.<br />
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<a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honest Tea</a> is just a tad bit sweet and certified organic by USDA. <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lorissa's Kitchen</a> premium prep-free protein snacks feature a clean label with many benefits that include 100% grass-fed beef, responsibly raised pork, is gluten-free and has no preservatives, no added growth hormones, no added MSG, and no added nitrites. The ingredients used in these portable snack packs can be found right in your own kitchen.</div>
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With <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honest Tea</a> and <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lorissa's Kitchen </a>products, you can feel better about your responsibly sourced protein snack and maintain a better lifestyle without sacrificing delicious flavor wherever you go.<br />
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<a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lorissa's Kitchen</a> offers four globally inspired flavors that can be found at your local Walmart store near the cash registers at the front of the store. <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honest Tea </a>products can be found nearby.<br />
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<b>Sweet deal alert:</b> Earn $1.00 cash back with your purchase of the following combination, exclusive at Walmart, <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lorissa's Kitchen™ Premium Protein Snacks</a> - Any variety - 2.25 oz. bag and <a href="http://cbi.as/a0nbd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Honest Tea®</a> - Any variety - Single bottle only. <i>Both products must be purchased on the same receipt to receive credit for this rebate.</i><br />
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<b>5. Keep track of the day.</b> Substitute daily report forms may not be required by all schools or districts, however, I highly suggest you write one. Some teachers have preprinted forms you can fill out or you can print out your own. I use a piece of notebook paper. I write my first and last name and the Throughout the day I write down any behavioral or safety incidents that occurred with students, what students were helpful, who had to have redirection and frequent reminders to follow instructions, and what assignments and activities were completed, and whatever else I feel should be added.<br />
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<b>6. Tidy up.</b> Before you leave at the end of the day, make sure the classroom is tidied up. Put furniture and supplies back where they found. I usually have my students pick up the trash around their desk or table and call them up and few at a time to throw it away. Some teachers have their students put their desks on the table before leaving, others don't. If you're unsure, ask a student.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>Bonus Tip:</b> If you have no classroom experience and your educational background is not in teaching, thoroughly research and practice classroom management techniques. Many educational staffing companies and districts will go through a few quick training courses with new subs, however, it's extremely beneficial to learn more.<br />
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I received permission from the principals at both schools to photograph the classrooms and share the images in this blog post. Thank you for reading!</div>

Back to School, Featured, Honest Tea, Lorissa's Kitchen, Sponsored, Walmart

Slay A Busy Day: 6 Tips For First-Year Substitute Teachers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #SnackHonestly #CollectiveB...

/ Tuesday, September 5, 2017

4 Reasons Why We (Moms) Need Time Alone Before The Kids Wake

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GoldPeakLattes #CollectiveBias<br />
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After six years of being a stay-at-home mom, I have re-entered the work force part-time as a substitute teacher. I'm not usually a morning person, however, since the new school year has begun, not only do I need to wake early to prepare my kids for school, but I also have to prepare myself and I have to leave our home 1-2 hours earlier than they do, depending on what school I'm teaching at.</div>
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When I began substituting during the second week of school, I quickly learned that even on the days where I'm not scheduled to substitute, waking up before my children is a must. We moms need our alone time before the kids wake for the following four benefits:</div>
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<b>1. To avoid "Grouchy Mommy Mode" and be mentally prepared for the journey ahead. </b>Oftentimes, no matter how much I do my best to prepare everything the night before, there is something that occurs, causing our mornings to be hectic. The level varies, but hectic nonetheless. I notice that when I wake up earlier than my children, I'm not waking up into chaos and busyness, which can stress me out and lead to instant "grouchy mommy mode" where my patience level is low and I become snappy and easily irritated. Thanks to the quiet time I have to myself or time peacefully spent with my husband, I'm calm, relaxed, and in a great mood. So great that I can handle morning rush hour traffic.<br />
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Some great ways to spend your quiet time are performing meditation techniques and mantras, exercising or other healthy movements such as stretching or yoga, reading, and encouraging affirmations that help give you confidence.</div>
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<b>How are mornings before school and work in your household? Do they usually run pretty smoothly or are they a little chaotic more often than not?</b><br />
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<b>2. To energize yourself before taking on the day.</b> I'm not a morning person. I wake early because, well, I have no choice. I need all the help I can get to get going. On the days I substitute, I'm unable to eat breakfast with my children because I have to leave out much earlier than they do. I usually make a quick and simple breakfast like toast, turkey bacon, and fruit along with one of my new favorite drinks, <a href="http://cbi.as/a0azt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak® Vanilla Chai Tea Latte</a>. I love that it's made with real sugar and real tea and comes in two delicious flavors, <a href="http://cbi.as/a0azj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak Chai Tea Latte</a> and <a href="http://cbi.as/a0azt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak</a><a href="http://cbi.as/a0azt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Vanilla Chai Tea Latte</a>. <a href="http://cbi.as/a0azt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak Vanilla Chai Tea Latte</a>s. It gives me the boost of energy I need to help keep my mornings going. There are also two coffee flavors, <a href="http://cbi.as/a0a-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak Salted Caramel Coffee Drink </a>and <a href="http://cbi.as/a0a-c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Peak Almond Toffee Coffee Drink</a>. They're ready to drink directly from the bottle and the flavor varieties take the hassle out of having to go to a coffee shop to get a cold brewed coffee or chai tea latte. </div>
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All four flavors can be found at your local Walmart store.</div>
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<b>3. You can plan tasks and events without interference. </b>Without my planner and alarms reminding me what my next move is, I'm an anxious, forgetful hot mess. I have found that I'm able to plan more easily and remember what needs to get done when I have peace and quiet. A flexible daily plan written out in my planner gives me a guide to follow and helps prevent me from getting off task throughout the day.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyW_Aep2ytY/Wa6n0M79yqI/AAAAAAAAL3k/Qn_obXqBky4Zg_JCIU4d3nZGjmVigRE_gCLcBGAs/s1600/gold-peak-vanilla-chai-tea-latte-walmart-wake-early-before-kids-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cbias, collective bias, social fabric, Walmart, Reasons, Why, We, Moms, Need, Time, Alone, Before, The, Kids, Children, Morning, Wake, Gold Peak Tea, Vanilla, Chai Latte, Salted Caramel, Coffee, Almond Toffee, Drink, Mommy, substitute, teacher, planning, planner, daily, patience, how to, have, Family, Interracial, Multiracial, youtube, blog" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyW_Aep2ytY/Wa6n0M79yqI/AAAAAAAAL3k/Qn_obXqBky4Zg_JCIU4d3nZGjmVigRE_gCLcBGAs/s1600/gold-peak-vanilla-chai-tea-latte-walmart-wake-early-before-kids-01.jpg" title="4 Reasons Why We (Moms) Need Our Time Alone Before The Kids Wake" /></a></div>
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<b>4. Waking earlier helps boost your productivity. </b>When I wake up earlier than my children, eat and get my day started, I find that I have more motivation to get things done without procrastination, whether it's cleaning or working on a blog post or video. It feels so good to get an early start on the day and complete tasks. I unintentionally motivate myself to keep up the good work because I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that follows getting things done.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>My Morning Routine</b></div>
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I like to keep my morning routine pretty simple. I shower, plan, and prepare outfits the night before. I wake between 5:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. depending on my scheduled substitute time, the latter if I'm not scheduled or it's my off day. I brush my teeth, wash my face, drink a glass of water, and have breakfast. During breakfast, I check the online system to see if any substitutes are needed for the day if I'm not already scheduled for the day and then quickly check my email. I check and reorganize my daily planner as necessary. I fold a load of laundry out the dryer from the night before. I try to get in a 5-minute stretch (it feels so good!), get dressed, then wake the kids and help them for a little while before I head off to work. I love listening to audiobooks on my ride to work. On my off days, my routine is the same, except instead of checking for substitute availabilities, I work on a blog post or video until it's time to focus on my kids.</div>
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If you're a grumpy mommy in the mornings more often than not and/or could improve your time management and planning in order to get everyone out of the house on time, I strongly encourage you to try both, going to sleep and waking at earlier times. I hope that in sharing my routine and benefits of waking earlier, it encourages you to make changes in your morning routine for the better.<br />
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Thank you for reading!<br />
-Brit</div>

Moms, Motherhood, Self Care, Sponsored

4 Reasons Why We (Moms) Need Time Alone Before The Kids Wake

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GoldPeakLattes #CollectiveB...

/ Friday, August 25, 2017

How To Help Your Child with New School Transitions

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There are many changes our children will face throughout their lives and part of our job as a parent is to be there for them and help to guide them through these changes. Of them, one of the biggest will be school transitions. Until your child graduates high school, around age 18, school is their job and a huge part of their lives. There are times when school will change such as during a move, or when your child moves up from elementary to middle, and then to high school. These transitions can be stressful and how you support your child throughout is very important.<br />
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We were faced with a new transition- my children began new grade levels at a new elementary school. No, we didn't move. Long story. When I enrolled my eldest child, my daughter, in kindergarten six years ago I went to what I thought was the closest school to us. We later found out that she was supposed to attend a school that's actually closer, but I had no idea it existed. The district allowed in-district transfers so we were fine where she was until recently. Last school year, the district stopped allowing in-district transfers, except for a few criteria in which we did not meet. My children were upset and anxious because they were worried about leaving their friends behind and also concerned about entering unfamiliar territory- new school and new staff. Their former principal knew them by name and we loved the teachers there.</div>
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Here are a few tips on how I helped my children with their school transition and how you can help your child with their school transitions:</div>
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<b>-Visit the school before school starts,</b> just you and the kids. We were able to visit the school and get familiar with the school grounds.<br />
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<b>-Talk about what can be expected during transitions</b> such as moving up a grade or starting at a new school and <b>highlight positive possible outcomes</b> like making new friends, a new playground, new fun activities, etc.<br />
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<b>-Listen without judging </b>to what your child has to say about the school and the transitions.<br />
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<b>-Explain that it is normal to feel anxiety about changes</b> and let your child know he can always come to you and talk about those feelings.</div>
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<b>-Talk with your child daily about school, </b>expectations, relationships, and how they feel overall about everything.</div>
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<b>-Find out what supplies your child will need in advance</b> and buy those needed supplies, buy them, and be involved with your child’s school and assignments.</div>
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<b>-Try to avoid asking other parents their opinions about the school and be prepared to form your own.</b> I received mixed reviews from two different parents whose have children with completely different needs.<br />
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Now that you have these tips, it will help you to help your child through the various transitions of school life. There will always be ups and downs but you can be there to encourage and support your child throughout it all.</div>
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<b>Have you had to deal with any school transitions? How did you help your child(ren) adapt to the new changes?</b></div>
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<b>How My Kids Are Doing At The Not-So-New Anymore School</b><br />
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Earlier this year during spring 2nd semester of 4th grade, my daughter Phoenix had a tough time adjusting, she's shy and doesn't make friends as easily as my son, however, as the year progressed and with encouragement from my husband and me, she managed to settle in fine within a few months and excelled academically as she always has, calling herself a "teacher's pet". While is 2nd grade at the new school my son Zac was accepted into a special program for gifted students that he loves and is excited to continue once it starts back up again in a couple weeks.<br />
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The staff turned out to be great and we're all very satisfied.<br />
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Last week Zac and Phoenix began 3rd and 5th grades at the new school, while Gabriel, began Kindergarten. So far this school year, Gabriel, my sweet kindergartner, has rushed us out of the door every single day, excited to go to school.</div>
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<b>Thanks for reading!</b></div>

Kids, Motherhood, School

How To Help Your Child with New School Transitions

There are many changes our children will face throughout their lives and part of our job as a parent is to be there for them and help ...

/ Monday, August 14, 2017

How I'm Planning Our Very First "Baecation" Stress-Free

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerIsForSavings #CollectiveBias #WFM3<br />
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Hey, friends! It seems like summer break has sped by so quickly. I almost can't believe my kids are going back to school this week! My youngest son is reaching a new milestone - he's starting kindergarten! He's so excited.</div>
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This summer, we have taken a couple of family vacations and made some wonderful memories, however, now it's time for a milestone of my own- my very first vacation alone with my husband, or as I have heard it called recently, a "baecation". We have been together for 10 years and are just now planning our first two-day getaway with just the two of us. We're hiking through the Missouri portion of the Mark Twain National Forest. I love hiking!</div>
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The planning process has been a breeze! We aren't traveling too far - 3 hours away - and since we don't have restless munchkins and little bladders coming along we don't have to plan multiple extra stops in between. I usually prefer using pen and paper to write lists and write down the itinerary, but this time I took a different route. I didn't want to worry about keeping track of papers and risking the chance of losing them so I have been planning everything on my <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile</a> new Samsung Galaxy J3 Luna Pro smartphone, purchased in the no-contract phone area of the electronics department at my local Walmart store.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtfslY05CtY/WZDxBN9h6bI/AAAAAAAAL0Q/hCsnYC2C9c0EXBZYKmKYKdJSS5HaIkbKwCLcBGAs/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Data-Plus-Plan-Vacation-Road-Trip-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Walmart Family Mobile, $49.88, Data Plus Plan, #Summerisforsavings, wfm3, Vacation, Road Trip, Baecation, Planning, Plan, How to, cbias, collective bias, couples, getaway" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LtfslY05CtY/WZDxBN9h6bI/AAAAAAAAL0Q/hCsnYC2C9c0EXBZYKmKYKdJSS5HaIkbKwCLcBGAs/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Data-Plus-Plan-Vacation-Road-Trip-03.jpg" title="How I'm Planning Our Very First "Baecation"" /></a></div>
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I'm not the least bit worried about data connection issues for accessing the smartphone apps and important information we need. Our current no-contract monthly phone plan, the <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$49.88 PLUS Plan</a> from <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile</a>, powered by T-Mobile's nationwide 4G LTE<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">†</span> network, provides me with an unlimited amount of talk, text, and data with up to 15GB of data, then 2G*. It covers a huge amount of areas throughout the U.S. So far, it has been very reliable for me and my needs when I have no wi-fi connection. <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile's $49.88 PLUS Plan</a> is Walmart's best pricing in no-contract wireless plans and has great benefits such as no activation fees, no late fees, it's easy to get started, and as a special bonus for renewing monthly, customers receive a free VUDU<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">◊</span> movie credit.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this page</a> or your local Walmart for current pricing.</i></b></span><br />
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<b>Vacation Checklists & Itinerary</b></div>
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Through one of my favorite apps that allow me to create various notes, lists, and notebooks, including saving web pages and files, I was able to:</div>
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-create packing lists for the kids and my husband and me. </div>
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-create a shopping list that I could easily access while out purchasing everything.</div>
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-type out the entire two-day itinerary for us to view during our trip.<br />
-save the documents for our scheduled cabin lodging for an easy check-in process.<br />
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<b>Would you or have you used your phone to keep track of important vacation information, or do you prefer using pen or pencil and paper and printing the necessary papers?</b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlvwoW4qSSw/WZDsbPUt_sI/AAAAAAAAL0A/TcykIAq0DPgKtZ7TZu7iItE5lhR8us7PwCLcBGAs/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Data-Plus-Plan-Vacation-Road-Trip-01.jpg"><img alt="Walmart Family Mobile, $49.88, Data Plus Plan, #Summerisforsavings, wfm3, Vacation, Road Trip, Baecation, Planning, Plan, How to, cbias, collective bias, couples, getaway, interracial, mixed, biracial, flat lay" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlvwoW4qSSw/WZDsbPUt_sI/AAAAAAAAL0A/TcykIAq0DPgKtZ7TZu7iItE5lhR8us7PwCLcBGAs/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Data-Plus-Plan-Vacation-Road-Trip-01.jpg" title="How I'm Planning Our Very First "Baecation"" /></a><br />
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<b>GPS Navigation & Locations</b></div>
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I saved the exact locations of the cabin, forest, restaurants, and gas stations in our GPS navigation app in advance so that we can easily travel from place to place without trying to figure out where to go while we're there.</div>
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I checked the <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile</a> data map to see if our data from the <a href="http://cbi.as/88iqe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$49.88 PLUS plan</a> expands throughout the path in which our road trip will be taking us and found that we will have data the whole, including 4G LTE<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">†</span> while at our cabin and throughout the town we're staying. With so much data, we don't have to worry about asking for wifi passwords.</div>
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<b>And So It Begins!</b></div>
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After packing and all that other not-so-fun stuff the only thing left to do was drop the kids off at my in-laws and get on the road!</div>
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This will be fun!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">DISCLAIMERS</span><br />
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*Please always refer to the latest terms and conditions at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://myfamilymobile.com&source=gmail&ust=1498618935718000&usg=AFQjCNGXN1i8JniMp2srev_nABLRLtP97A" href="http://myfamilymobile.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #187bd1; margin: 0px;" target="_blank">myfamilymobile.com</a>.</span></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">◊Limited time offer. Available for lines active with the PLUS $49.88 plan only. VUDU enabled device and account required for digital viewing. Customers must be 18 years or older to open a VUDU account. Movie rental only available in the USA. Free movie rental provided in the form of a movie rental code to the value of a $7.00 VUDU credit. Movie rental code allows for selection from available movies for rent. May not be readily redeemable on all new releases. The code will be delivered within up to 24 hours of the effective account renewal date. Must be used <span class="aBn" style="background-color: initial; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">within 30 days</span> of receiving the code. Offer is non-transferable. Limit 1 per customer. Additional terms and conditions on VUDU's website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.vudu.com/termsofservice.html&source=gmail&ust=1498618935718000&usg=AFQjCNG7iar7ley5IWzse1Et6cjIEv1KLQ" href="http://www.vudu.com/termsofservice.html" rel="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #187bd1; margin: 0px;" target="_blank">http://www.vudu.com/<wbr style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"></wbr>termsofservice.html</a></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">†To get 4G LTE speed, you must have a 4G LTE capable device and 4G LTE SIM Card. Actual availability, coverage, and speed may vary. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><b>Thanks for reading!</b></span></div>

Featured, Moms, Sponsored, Summer, Travel, Walmart Family Mobile

How I'm Planning Our Very First "Baecation" Stress-Free

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. ...

/ Thursday, August 3, 2017

End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's Pizza!

<span style="background-color: white;">This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TonysHometownPride #CollectiveBias</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vshKi5rN1ZY/WYJhpUdeEzI/AAAAAAAALuk/-JoBQz785nEn9fq9uSjpm8CjrEBkWpf5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="walmart, tony's pizza, #tonyshometownpride, sweepstakes, campaign, football, season, party, gift, team, ideas, diy, how to, kansas city, mo, ks, missouri, kansas, #cbias, collection bias" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vshKi5rN1ZY/WYJhpUdeEzI/AAAAAAAALuk/-JoBQz785nEn9fq9uSjpm8CjrEBkWpf5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-08.jpg" title="End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's® Pizza! AD" /></a></div>
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For families who have children that play football- either tackle or flag- summer leagues are coming to an end, while school leagues have just begun. Either way, the team players, <i>and parents</i> deserve some relaxation and team fun for all their hard work throughout the season. A post-season team party with delicious food and snacks along with a special gift basket to take away is just the thing to help them bond once more and reflect on their favorite memories. For simple and affordable party and gift basket ideas, keep reading! :-)<br />
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Oh! And Kansas City, MO and KS residents can win a $10,000 donation to your child's team! Tony's Pizza is hosting a <a href="http://cbi.as/9lywy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook </a><a href="http://cbi.as/9lywy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sweepstakes campaign</a> in the Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS metro areas centered around community and pizza. <u>Get all the details at the end of this post!</u><br />
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<b>The Team Party and Food</b></div>
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To keep the party simple and affordable I created my own crafts, using brown paper bags with the tops cut off to store peanuts and popcorn. I used white-out correction fluid to draw the laces. I used the excess paper from the bags to make footballs put onto a string.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZDsb6H4Kx0/WYM0Ie59X2I/AAAAAAAALwI/K0BpWCXYgZAdy23Ha2GVndeqbuxXM4h8ACLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="walmart, tony's pizza, #tonyshometownpride, sweepstakes, campaign, football, season, party, gift, team, ideas, diy, how to, kansas city, mo, ks, missouri, kansas, #cbias, collection bias" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZDsb6H4Kx0/WYM0Ie59X2I/AAAAAAAALwI/K0BpWCXYgZAdy23Ha2GVndeqbuxXM4h8ACLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-12.jpg" title="End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's® Pizza! AD" /></a></div>
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I decorated a poster board for the table backdrop and used a green tablecloth to simulate football field turf.</div>
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I kept the food options simple because kids aren't usually very choosy, especially when there's pizza and popcorn!</div>
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Instead of order and carry out, <a href="http://cbi.as/9lyxo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tony's Pizza</a> is a great, affordable choice! Not only is the pizza delicious, but it's a local company that started in my home state's, Missouri, sibling-state, Kansas. Tony's began as a pizzeria in 1960, located in Salina, KS, proudly serving community members layers of light, crispy crust topped with a sauce made from real, fresh tomatoes covered in 100% real mozzarella cheese and your favorite savory toppings.<br />
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<a href="http://cbi.as/9lyxo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tony's</a> has a wide variety of toppings to choose from. Our flavors of choice are Tony's® Pizzeria Style Pepperoni Pizza, Tony's® Pizzeria Style Cheese Pizza, and Tony's® Pizzeria Style Supreme Pizza. Tony's can be located in the pizza section of the freezer aisle at your local Walmart store.<br />
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For snacks, we went with popcorn and peanuts, usual game snacks, and cupcakes because, well, our parties aren't parties without some type of cake!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dbeCcdiark/WYJhpcs3XLI/AAAAAAAALuU/eDFNu7M6NyQ0kLPqRNr08fLJ87cWp-4NgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="walmart, tony's pizza, #tonyshometownpride, sweepstakes, campaign, football, season, party, gift, team, ideas, diy, how to, kansas city, mo, ks, missouri, kansas, #cbias, collection bias" border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dbeCcdiark/WYJhpcs3XLI/AAAAAAAALuU/eDFNu7M6NyQ0kLPqRNr08fLJ87cWp-4NgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-07.jpg" title="End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's® Pizza! AD" /></a></div>
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<b>The Gift Baskets</b></div>
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To accommodate varying budgets of the parents on the team who would like to pitch in and help, it's good to keep the costs low, especially considering the fact that you're making a basket for each team member.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JWRsmkuCx0/WYJhoRGUxOI/AAAAAAAALuE/j2maBK-1XsUgCXMm1XmicbHUKA6NaZOzgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="walmart, tony's pizza, #tonyshometownpride, sweepstakes, campaign, football, season, party, gift, team, ideas, diy, how to, kansas city, mo, ks, missouri, kansas, #cbias, collection bias" border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9JWRsmkuCx0/WYJhoRGUxOI/AAAAAAAALuE/j2maBK-1XsUgCXMm1XmicbHUKA6NaZOzgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-01.jpg" title="End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's® Pizza! AD" /></a></div>
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⬩A small notebook<br />
⬩2 mechanical pencils<br />
⬩Water bottle<br />
⬩Toy football<br />
⬩Granola bar<br />
⬩A t-shirt for each teammate to sign their name and jersey number on each other's shirt<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2N1LkNnIZ4g/WYJhp-HHLRI/AAAAAAAALug/fTcLwTIRzzYWH3ZNEL0q4w5elQHogYFLQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="walmart, tony's pizza, #tonyshometownpride, sweepstakes, campaign, football, season, party, gift, team, ideas, diy, how to, kansas city, mo, ks, missouri, kansas, #cbias, collection bias" border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2N1LkNnIZ4g/WYJhp-HHLRI/AAAAAAAALug/fTcLwTIRzzYWH3ZNEL0q4w5elQHogYFLQCLcBGAs/s1600/Tonys-Pizza-Walmart-Football-Gift-10.jpg" title="End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's® Pizza! AD" /></a><br />
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I'm glad to be partnering with <a href="http://cbi.as/9lyxo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tony's</a> because my kids love participating in annual sports activities and Tony's Pizza cares about fueling youth sports with an authentic slice of pride.<br />
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<b> Do you have children under the age 18 that enjoy playing sports? If so, what sport do they play?</b></div>
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<b>Sweepstakes Details</b><br />
▸The <a href="http://cbi.as/9lywy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sweepstakes</a> ends on September 30, 2017, so enter fast!<br />
▸Must live in KC, MO or KS<br />
▸Submissions come from parent or legal guardian<br />
▸Athlete featured must be under the age of 18<br />
▸Submit a brief description of child’s team detailing pride in the team showing how they play the game with sportsmanship and camaraderie.<br />
▹Grand Prize: $10,000 donation to the child’s team or athletics department<br />
▹Two Finalists: $2,500 donation to the child’s team or athletics department<br />
▸Submissions that are inspiring but do not receive a financial reward will get tickets to Tony’s Event Center.<br />
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DIY, Family, Featured, Meals, Sponsored

End Football Season With a Special Gift For the Whole Team! Your Child's Team Can Win $10K With Tony's Pizza!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TonysHometownPride #CollectiveBias...

/ Saturday, July 15, 2017

Summer Road Trip and Camping With Kids YouTube Video

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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gq-81pGF2EE/WWo5jgi7qiI/AAAAAAAALrw/YN0OeEodzJUk-EW_q7hEaipAwciZ7TnowCLcBGAs/s1600/066-INTERRACIAL-FAMILY-VLOG-VACATION-TRAVEL-COLORADO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BritneyDearest, Summer, vacation, travel, family, tips, Road Trip, Camping With Kids, children, what to bring, interracial family, multicultural family, mixed kids, biracial, black woman, white man, women, men, love" border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gq-81pGF2EE/WWo5jgi7qiI/AAAAAAAALrw/YN0OeEodzJUk-EW_q7hEaipAwciZ7TnowCLcBGAs/s1600/066-INTERRACIAL-FAMILY-VLOG-VACATION-TRAVEL-COLORADO.jpg" title="Summer Road Trip and Camping With Kids - Britney Dearest TV" /></a></div>
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Recently, my family went on a 9-hour road trip to Estes Park, Colorado. We stayed at a beautiful campsite that has a swimming pool, a community bath house, a store at the main check-in building, laundry room, beautiful scenery, and more!<br />
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Over the next few days, I'll be sharing videos of our travels and activities on my <a href="https://youtu.be/6X1iDn7D5zo" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> and some family road trip, camping, and hiking tips! Subscribe to my blog and channel to stay updated!<br />
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Watch the video from day one of our trip below the next few photos!<br />
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Family, Family Fun, Summer, Travel, Video

Summer Road Trip and Camping With Kids *YouTube Video*

Recently, my family went on a 9-hour road trip to Estes Park, Colorado. We stayed at a beautiful campsite that has a swimming pool, a co...

/ Friday, June 9, 2017

STEM Learning With Robotics Programs & Win a Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator LEGO® Brick Set! [CLOSED]

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This giveaway and content are sponsored in partnership with Nakturnal.</div>
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The school year has ended, but that doesn't mean learning has to end! Learning can and should continue, especially in ways that allow young learners to have so much fun that they don't even realize they're building important skills through play!<br />
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STEM, an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, has become a very popular educational focus of many parents and educators. STEM activities are very hands-on and offer children the opportunity to learn special skills that help them understand how STEM subjects and concepts permeate our everyday lives and how they can be used.</div>
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A few favorite STEM activities in our household are LEGO® brick sets, our <a href="http://www.britneydearest.com/2017/05/teach-children-how-to-code-activities.html" target="_blank">Bitsbox coding monthly subscription</a>, and science kits.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4W4gr6iGFjk/WTpbOWyKr2I/AAAAAAAALjI/pFHfu02XuSw0_16QUsfRLU5FA7f-u7XygCLcB/s1600/Snapology-Robotics-STEM-Giveaway-LEGO-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4W4gr6iGFjk/WTpbOWyKr2I/AAAAAAAALjI/pFHfu02XuSw0_16QUsfRLU5FA7f-u7XygCLcB/s1600/Snapology-Robotics-STEM-Giveaway-LEGO-02.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Snapology for STEM Education</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.snapology.com/programs/robotics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Snapology is an educational program</a> that implements STEM concepts into fun educational activities. Snapology team members use LEGO® bricks and K'NEX robotic sets, as well as technology to engage children, ages 1-14, in activities that take place within homes, community facilities, schools, and at select locations, Discovery Centers. Snapology also offers numerous classes and camps for children to participate in multiple STEM activities year-round (see the list below!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.snapology.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Photo source</a></td></tr>
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<b>Snapology Giveaway!</b></div>
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For my first giveaway ever, one lucky reader will win a Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator LEGO brick set (ages 6+)! All you have to do is leave a comment below about STEM and/or Snapology and be sure to enter into the giveaway using the form below.</div>
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<i>Comment thought starters: Do you implement STEM enrichment activities into your children's play time, if so what are they? Would you be interested in hosting a Snapology event such as a birthday party for your child or one listed in the list above?</i><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYo27gObrro/WTpX0MLO_UI/AAAAAAAALi0/i_kms17SvaMXAZ8uRE651bqoYaHQPMDvQCLcB/s1600/snapology-set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="906" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYo27gObrro/WTpX0MLO_UI/AAAAAAAALi0/i_kms17SvaMXAZ8uRE651bqoYaHQPMDvQCLcB/s1600/snapology-set.jpg" /></a></div>
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*Britney Dearest is not responsible for handling or shipping of the prize.</div>
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<b>Good luck!</b><br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="92aa35220" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92aa35220/" id="rcwidget_js1by70n" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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Educational Activities, Giveaway, Kids, Sponsored

STEM Learning With Robotics Programs & Win a Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator LEGO® Brick Set! [CLOSED]

This giveaway and content are sponsored in partnership with Nakturnal. The school year has ended, but that doesn't mean learning...

/ Tuesday, May 30, 2017

3 Simple Tips to Help Your Dog Stay Cool In the Summer Heat!

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurinaMysteries #CollectiveBias</div>
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My husband's childhood and early adulthood were spent with family pet companions, his family has always been great advocates for animals. My father-in-law has volunteered at pet shelters and a local children's hospital. Early in our marriage, my husband made it clear that he wanted us to adopt a dog one day. Me, on the other hand, I did not grow up around pets. I wasn't very fond of animals and never planned to own a family pet of any kind.<br />
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In September 2016 we had a spur-of-the-moment idea to visit a local pet shelter. We weren't planning on adopting a pet because it wasn't in our budget and I wasn't ready. After looking around for awhile, seeing how sad and lonely so many of the dogs appeared, we decided that we would adopt a dog and adjust our budget as necessary.<br />
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That same day, we visited a second shelter, which is where we found Luke, a four-month-old handsome black retriever, greyhound mix. He was asleep and no matter what we did- knocking on the glass, calling his name, whistling- we couldn't wake him. When we met him in a private room, he trembled in fear. He was so timid and chose to stay underneath a chair sitting in a corner during the entire meeting. He grabbed our hearts in a special way and we decided he was the companion for us. We were able to bring Luke home within a few hours. </div>
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<i>"Luke really completes our family."</i> - My 8-year-old son, ZJ.</div>
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Ever since Luke has joined our family, he has blended in perfectly. He's no longer that scared, timid puppy we met at the shelter- he's now a thriving canine! I have gained a newfound love for dogs I never thought I would have. I have even taken it upon myself to learn more about Luke's health and well-being to ensure that he is always in the best health possible.</div>
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My husband has done an amazing job training Luke!<br />
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My active family loves taking Luke hiking or bike riding, whether on bike trails or throughout our neighborhood. He enjoys being outdoors sniffing and exploring the environment and it's a great way to help him burn off all the energy he has. According to our veterinarian, it's important that dogs have at least <b>30 minutes of physical activity each day</b> because:</div>
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<i><b>1. It helps curb boredom. </b></i>Dogs naturally have a lot of energy. When they aren't able to release that energy through physical activity and play, they become bored and oftentimes, this can lead to hyperactivity.<br />
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<i><b>2. It helps keep them from becoming overweight. </b></i>When dogs are overweight, it can lead to unfortunate health issues.<br />
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<b><i>3. It helps improve their socialization.</i></b> Oftentimes, dogs can become so territorial that they try to attack any well-meaning dog or human that comes within or close to their territory or family members. Socialization helps decrease the odds of that happening and helps them become more friendly.</div>
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In addition to physical activity, another major factor of Luke's well-being and growth is great nutrition! His health and nutrition are as important to us as our own and the number one pet food brand we have trusted for his nutritional benefits is <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl9e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina®</a>. <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl9e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina</a> has a variety of foods and treats at PetSmart, which greatly helps take the mystery out of pet care and provides pets with what they truly desire. Luke loves <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl9e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina ONE®</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnbudpPhvwY/WSxzdNaJ-SI/AAAAAAAALfI/JkYQJJ4V9BID9VXyDDIzYbOaQKo6BekCACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#purinamysteries, #cbias, purina, britney dearest, pets, summer, exercise, important, pet adoption, collective bias, social fabric" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnbudpPhvwY/WSxzdNaJ-SI/AAAAAAAALfI/JkYQJJ4V9BID9VXyDDIzYbOaQKo6BekCACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-07.jpg" title="Purina Codeword at PetSmart" /></a></div>
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During the month of June, when PetSmart shoppers purchase $40 worth of participating <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl9e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina®</a> products, they will receive a $10 gift card. Be sure to stop by your local PetSmart throughout June to take advantage of this amazing offer! Even better, there is no limit to how many times the deal can be redeemed at the <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl7d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">redemption site</a> up until July 9, 2017.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4q_tnHDiK6c/WSxwj9hMY3I/AAAAAAAALew/VsU-Dho6C7omnbvqgXVWE3EadjmN7FHaQCLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#purinamysteries, #cbias, purina, britney dearest, pets, summer, exercise, important, pet adoption, collective bias, social fabric" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4q_tnHDiK6c/WSxwj9hMY3I/AAAAAAAALew/VsU-Dho6C7omnbvqgXVWE3EadjmN7FHaQCLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-06.jpg" title="Purina Codeword at PetSmart" /></a></div>
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We get Luke's favorite food from the <a href="http://cbi.as/7sl9e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina® ONE</a> aisle at our local PetSmart store. </div>
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With summer quickly approaching, it may not be as easy to keep pets outside for longer than 30 minutes at a time every day, and that's understandable. Below, I have a few tips to help you and your dog stay cool during exercise this summer.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJxbpyptS6M/WSzGUn8sL3I/AAAAAAAALfY/QihR3w8V8TAYG13Gu_x-hxOhoUmsom29ACLcB/s1600/3%2Bsimple%2Bways.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#purinamysteries, #cbias, purina, britney dearest, pets, summer, exercise, important, pet adoption, collective bias, social fabric" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJxbpyptS6M/WSzGUn8sL3I/AAAAAAAALfY/QihR3w8V8TAYG13Gu_x-hxOhoUmsom29ACLcB/s1600/3%2Bsimple%2Bways.png" title="Purina Codeword at PetSmart" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*If there are high heat advisories, I strongly suggest you and your pet stay indoors.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="b-hbp-video b-uploaded" frameborder="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER-video-7577263e52727048-14067" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqu12Nzm8kSUwBu7oyrfPumLzqC_8SU1YuC9A0Q--iwh8vM3NtcFugyTWAzL6Mb1QBAH1gNOSerujV9vEIti9XTnK9Q7cr2W94sAxWCB7Iaqg5yudSkobYm31gQIFjabRcmBiO" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe>
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<b>Now that I have shared my family's story, our love for our pet is no mystery. Do you have a pet that holds a special place in our heart? If so, share your unique story and encourage your social media followers to share their stories using the hashtag #PurinaMysteries.</b></div>
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Pets, Sponsored

3 Simple Tips to Help Your Dog Stay Cool In the Summer Heat!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurinaMysteries #CollectiveBias...

/ Monday, May 22, 2017

Teach Your Children How to Code This Summer With Interactive Coding Activities!

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Not a sponsored ad. Affiliate links. Honest opinion.<br />
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Over the past year, I have noticed that coding for children has been a very hot topic. I have noticed many parents in homeschooling communities (no, I don't homeschool) and bloggers mention classes and books that they're currently using to help their children learn to code. My children <i>love</i> playing computer games as well video games- Minecraft being their favorite. My 7-year-old son is a little Minecraft genius. I have heard my 10-year-old daughter ask him questions during their gaming time when she needs help. I won't even begin to act like I know anything about it, other than, it's a block world. A world made of blocks? Or Bricks?</div>
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Something like that.</div>
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Considering the growth of the world's daily use of computers and phone and tablet apps, including in schools, with the ever growing development of new digital systems, coding is a beneficial skill to learn during childhood. Not only will children know how to use computer programs and apps, they will know how to create and fix them. It's a skill that can last a lifetime as well as earn them a great living in adulthood, should they choose to pursue coding as a career.</div>
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Earlier this year I began Google searching my locality for coding classes for kids. The two organizations I found sounded great, but unfortunately, between conflicting schedules and closed registration, we were unable to join. I began to research another option- learning with my children.</div>
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<b>Kids Get Coding Books</b><br />
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In perfect timing, a fellow blogger I follow on Instagram shared a picture of a set of four books she had recently purchased titled, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1512458554/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=britneydeares-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1512458554&linkId=1a4f32c18b965f8cce68574ac517939f" target="_blank">"Kids Get Coding"</a> by Heather Lyons. I was instantly interested in learning more about the books so because Google knows <i>everything</i>, I performed a quick search. Before visiting Amazon, I went to the publisher's site where I found brief synopsises of each book. Fairly new, they hardly have any reviews on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=britneydeares-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, however, I decided to take a chance and place an order. I ordered all four books- "<a href="http://amzn.to/2rapgK2" target="_blank">A World of Programming</a>", "<a href="http://amzn.to/2ruy5On" target="_blank">Learn to Program</a>", "<a href="http://amzn.to/2qaC8eY" target="_blank">Coding, Bugs, and Fixes</a>", and "<a href="http://amzn.to/2qaB9eN" target="_blank">Online Safety for Coders</a>."<br />
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<b>My review of the books so far:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>As much as they wanted to, my kids haven't started reading the books yet. They have so much going on with school and extra activities that I didn't want to add more to their load, however, we'll begin during the last week of school. I, however, have read the books and they are parent-approved.</div>
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The books help gain a good foundation in learning the meaning of different terms. There are activities within the books as well as activities that that can be printed out from an accompanying website that helps children understand how different aspects of coding work. My only concern is that the books don't lead readers directly to a children's coding site, like Scratch or Python. The books are very kid-friendly and even has the main character, Data Duck, guiding them through the book.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=britneydeares-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1512416037&asins=1512416037&linkId=dedf058a4bae05f1f3e5d9c556360c3c&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; height: 240px; text-align: center; width: 120px;"></iframe><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">   </span><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=britneydeares-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1512416010&asins=1512416010&linkId=ffa255d5bfdb7f2508fbcad123662a2e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; height: 240px; text-align: center; width: 120px;"></iframe><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">   </span><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=britneydeares-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1512416029&asins=1512416029&linkId=28761c94a986a7bd8d2987b0bb9914d9&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">   </span><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=britneydeares-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1512416002&asins=1512416002&linkId=b05bb06eef86c410c2a1bed92734e59f&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></center>
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Later this year, there will be <a href="http://amzn.to/2qPMOku" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">four additional books</a> added to this collection. Amazon offers customers the option to preorder, so, once you have purchased the first set, be sure to preorder the new set!<br />
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<b>BitsBox</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bitsbox.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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After another Instagram share, this time from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hereweeread" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here Wee Read</a>, I learned about <a href="https://bitsbox.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bitsbox</a>, a hands on monthly subscription box that helps children learn to code through the use of cards and online activities that teach children how to create apps! Each month Bitsbox sends out a new box with a different theme and new apps to create on the Bitsbox coding site.<br />
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The <a href="https://bitsbox.com/blog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BitzBox blog</a> is very informative and encouraging for parents and educators. It shares insight into the Bitsbox activities as well information about the company and general information about coding for kids.<br />
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I purchased a monthly subscription for my children for $24.95, but it won't arrive until the end of this month (May), so I'll be sure to post an update on that as soon as we try it out! There are two other monthly subscriptuon prices with different features, one for $19.95 which is digital and the Deluxe for $44.95. The prices decrease depending on whther one chooses quarterly or annual billing.<br />
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I hope this was helpful! Let me know if you plan to order the Kids Get Coding books andor subscribe to Bitsbox!
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Don't forget to share on Pinterest!</div>
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Educational Activities, Kids, Learning

Teach Your Children How to Code This Summer With Interactive Coding Activities!

Not a sponsored ad. Affiliate links. Honest opinion. Over the past year, I have noticed that coding for children has been a very hot...

/ Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Celebrity Figures Everywhere! The Hollywood Wax Museum

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As part of our spring break, my husband and I took our children out for a daycation. We drove three hours away from our home to Branson, MO to visit The Hollywood Wax Museum and its additional attractions, <a href="http://www.britneydearest.com/2017/04/our-first-time-visiting-butterfly-palace.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Butterfly Palace</a>, and <a href="http://www.britneydearest.com/2017/03/first-time-cave-talking-rocks-cavern.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Talking Rocks Cavern</a>.<br />
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The Hollywood Wax Museum is a part of <a href="http://hollywoodentertainmentcenter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hollywood Entertainment Center</a> along with Hannah's Maze of Mirrors, Castle of Chaos, and Shoot for the Stars Mini-Golf course. With an All-Acess Pass, we were able to visit each attraction, however, we chose not to participate in mini-golf due to timing.<br />
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We first visited the Wax Museum, which was pretty awesome! It was my first time and I was very impressed! When we first went in we had our photo taken, standing in the hand of King Kong. The kids enjoyed seeing each wax figure and reading information about each celebrity on the digital tablets. I created a video showcasing some of our favorite sculpted celebrities and full experience below!<br />
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My favorite area was the horror movie characters. They were so lifelike!<br />
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Following the wax museum, we visited Hannah's Maze of Mirrors. My kids <i>loved</i> it! There were electronic story characters that appeared behind the mirrors at a few turns. It seems like we were in a neverending maze! It was a lot of fun.<br />
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I had no idea what to expect at the Castle of Chaos. It turned out to be an experience unlike any other! It's a 5D haunted attraction where each participant has to be seated and buckled. There's a 3D video game film that plays as the participants spin and shoot creepy characters. The ghosts aren't only inside the screen, they also come out of walls from all around the room, even the ceiling! Air blows at the right time and the seats move to make it feel like a realistic experience. My advice is this: don't sit in an end seat if you're afraid of horror movies or experiences- like me!<br />
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I highly recommend the All Access Pass! Each attraction we participated in was far better than I expected and my family would love to visit again!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://bransonkidsguide.com/coupon.php?regionid=1130&bid=11042&lid=13737&dealid=1119" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click HERE to receive $2 OFF an All Access Pass</a></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Please visit <a href="http://hollywoodentertainmentcenter.com/">http://hollywoodentertainmentcenter.com/</a> for more information.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Thanks for reading! Have you ever experienced a 5D attraction?</span></span><br />
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Family Fun, Sponsored, Travel, Video

Celebrity Figures Everywhere! The Hollywood Wax Museum

As part of our spring break, my husband and I took our children out for a daycation. We drove three hours away from our home to Bran...

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