Britney Dearest

/ Friday, June 9, 2017

STEM Learning With Robotics Programs & Win a Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator LEGO® brick set!

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This giveaway and content are sponsored in partnership with Nakturnal.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUJ19RfnB9Y/WTpY9w1zY_I/AAAAAAAALi8/SMwDT_P8WSUVgQafcT-2C4HQ7QU_nU32wCLcB/s1600/21587257093_4de3624b29_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUJ19RfnB9Y/WTpY9w1zY_I/AAAAAAAALi8/SMwDT_P8WSUVgQafcT-2C4HQ7QU_nU32wCLcB/s1600/21587257093_4de3624b29_c.jpg" /></a></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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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jdC8VFphB8A/WTpBxm8rPhI/AAAAAAAALiE/MM2KIBLXpi4Tw0jZXWtg-UTGPm3NySXmQCLcB/s1600/Snapology-Robotics-STEM-Giveaway-LEGO-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LEGO, K'nex, science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics, giveaway, Nakturnal" border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jdC8VFphB8A/WTpBxm8rPhI/AAAAAAAALiE/MM2KIBLXpi4Tw0jZXWtg-UTGPm3NySXmQCLcB/s1600/Snapology-Robotics-STEM-Giveaway-LEGO-01.jpg" title="STEM Learning With Robotics Programs and Snapology" /></a></div>
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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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*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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Educational Activities, Giveaway, Kids, Sponsored

STEM Learning With Robotics Programs & Win a Snapology Mascot Sebastian Gator LEGO® brick set!

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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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2X_-4o4UzfU/WSzSLVZNNsI/AAAAAAAALgA/nqb6-ypR6SY6h83LLdo_P_Mmh8P3XetyACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-00.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/-2X_-4o4UzfU/WSzSLVZNNsI/AAAAAAAALgA/nqb6-ypR6SY6h83LLdo_P_Mmh8P3XetyACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-00.jpg" title="Purina Codeword at PetSmart" /></a></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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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9MwRKz_T4A/WSxx001AryI/AAAAAAAALe8/7jmRRWObgAkodUJbg87b7oV3vU55MEBVACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-04.jpg" imageanchor="1"><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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K9MwRKz_T4A/WSxx001AryI/AAAAAAAALe8/7jmRRWObgAkodUJbg87b7oV3vU55MEBVACLcB/s1600/PURINA-ONE-PETSMART-DOG-BRITNEY-DEAREST-04.jpg" title="Purina Codeword at PetSmart" /></a></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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<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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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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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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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, Sponsored, Travel

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...

/ Sunday, April 2, 2017

We Visited a Palace! The Butterfly Palace

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This post is sponsored by The Butterfly Palace.</div>
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Recently, my family and I took a daycation to Branson, MO, which is three hours away from our home. There was a total of seven of us! My niece and nephew wanted to come along and we couldn't say no. They're my babies too and we know that the memories will last a lifetime!<br />
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We visited three local attractions, the first was the Hollywood Entertainment Center, which I will be sharing details on tomorrow. Our second stop was The Butterfly Palace, which you'll be reading about today, and third, we toured Talking Rocks Cavern. I shared our experience <a href="http://www.britneydearest.com/2017/03/first-time-cave-talking-rocks-cavern.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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I can't say that I had ever heard of a butterfly palace so I didn't really know what to expect with our visit. By the end of our visit, I was pleasantly surprised! The one thing I will say is, don't take kids who are deathly afraid of butterflies! I had no idea my kids would be so terrified! I had a few good laughs, but my husband was totally embarrassed.<br />
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I created a short video of our experience. :-).<br />
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The Butterfly Palace has a bright and tropical feel. It was very pretty and colorful. Watch  in the video below!<br />
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The first thing we did was try out the Banyan Tree Adventure. There are faux rocks and flowers throughout the space and lots of bungee cord ropes, hanging from the ceiling down to the ground, to travel through. The ropes mimic Banyan Tree roots, which are trees found in rainforests. There's also a interactive digital pond.</center>
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Following the Banyan Tree Adventure, we headed to the Butterfly Aviary. The room had the temperature and humidity of a rainforest. There were lots plants and a waterfall. There were Pith helmets, magnifying glasses, and binoculars for the little explorers to use. We were given a list with names and images of different types of exotic butterflies to look for. There were butterflies flying all around us the entire time. The kids weren't to fond of them getting close, but my husband and I enjoyed them.</center>
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Our next stop was the Emerald Forest Mirror Maze. My kids loved it. It was very dark (as seen in the video) and there are mirrors at every turn! There were times when I thought I saw my children, only to find out, it was their reflection. It was a lot of fun. Some of us may have walked into a mirror... or two.</center>
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The last area we visited was the Rainforest Science Center, the kids second favorite area. There were numerous different animals that reside in rainforests including a scorpion, poison dart frogs, and a gecko. The kids were able to learn fun facts and pet a blue-tongue skink! </center>
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In the Science Center there were also educational activities such as a digital dissection activity which allowed the kids to use their fingers to slide frog organs out of its body for examination. There was also a microscope where kids could view and examine multiple types of specimens.</center>
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There's also a gift shop with tons of different types of gifts including butterfly wind chimes and beautiful yard stakes.</center>
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The Butterfly Palace creatively blends education with fun to create a great experience for attendees. </center>
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When you visit Branson, I recommend you put The Butterfly Palace on your to-do list. :-)</center>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lora"; font-size: 17px;">The Butterfly Palace is open year round, 9am- 5pm daily!</span></center>
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Thanks for reading!</center>
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Family, Family Fun, Sponsored, Travel

We Visited a Palace! The Butterfly Palace

This post is sponsored by The Butterfly Palace. Recently, my family and I took a daycation to Branson, MO, which is three hours away f...

/ Friday, March 31, 2017

Our first Time Touring a Cave at Talking Rocks Cavern!

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This post has been sponsored by Talking Rocks Cavern in Branson, MO.</div>
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Recently, my family and I drove three hours away to Branson, MO for a family daycation- a vacation that lasts for a day. We left early in the morning around 6 a.m. and after we completed the last attraction, we got on the road, heading back home around 6:30 p.m.<br />
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Over the next three days, I'll share photos and details from each place we visited, beginning with the last attraction of the day.<br />
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We all enjoyed visiting Talking Rocks Cavern. Although the cave is the main attraction, there's also a nature trail, miniature golf, gemstone mining, a playground, and indoor and outdoor Speleo Boxes.<br />
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While waiting for our tour to begin, we played checkers using stones for the board chips.<br />
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Prior to the tour, everyone gathered in the seating area where we went over safety rules and regulations and the history of how the cave was found and how it developed into the family-friendly attraction it is today.</div>
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Below is an image of the view at the beginning of the tour.</div>
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We stopped a few times as the tour guide gave scientific and historical facts about the cave and allowed tourists to ask questions. My husband won the award for most questions asked. Well, not really, but he asked so many questions that I began to get a little impatient. I was ready to move on and see the rest of the cave! The formations were so fascinating!</div>
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There was a moment when the tour guides asked everyone to pause and turn off all lighting so that we could see what the cave was like in complete darkness. My kids thought it was one of the most coolest, scariest things ever.</div>
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There were a couple of narrow spaces and a little bit of naturally occurring leakage throughout the cave, so we occasionally felt drops of water coming from above us.</div>
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After our cave adventure we walked the nature trail, however, we didn't finish because the kids became tired, as it was nearing the end of the day.</div>
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Before leaving, we played miniature golf and checkers again- a little different than before.</div>
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I'll share a full video of our full day on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD2fhRlSJoIpwKWKVx5DLrQ" target="_blank">Youtube channel</a> Monday, so be sure to visit!</div>
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There was something interesting I had never heard of and wanted to try... a Speleo box. There were two- one inside and one outside. It's supposed to mimic climbing through a narrow cave and, someone ended up getting stuck before even climbing completely in. Guess who.<br />
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Talking Rocks Cavern was a fun and educational family experience and has piqued our interest in participating in more cave tours!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "lora"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://bransonkidsguide.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=12885&dealid=2801" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a9cb8; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Click HERE to save $2.00 off each regular price admission.</a> *<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: xx-small; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px;">Not valid with other offers. Valid for up to 10 people!</span></span></span><br />
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Family, Sponsored, Travel

Our first Time Touring a Cave at Talking Rocks Cavern!

This post has been sponsored by Talking Rocks Cavern in Branson, MO. Recently, my family and I drove three hours away to Branson, MO f...

/ Monday, March 27, 2017

Max Your Tax Cash and Treat Your Family to a Movie Party!

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<i>This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. This story and all opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias</i></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjsXGN0NKKM/WNgbstjjGFI/AAAAAAAALNE/a2127KjHVfo-k1Kr79ixzTwjLChhrgGlgCLcB/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Ice-Cream-Bar-Buffet-Party-023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#yourtaxcash, #cbias, #shop, Walmart Family Mobile PLUS, Collective Bias, spring, party, ice cream, bar, buffet, diy, britney dearest" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjsXGN0NKKM/WNgbstjjGFI/AAAAAAAALNE/a2127KjHVfo-k1Kr79ixzTwjLChhrgGlgCLcB/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Ice-Cream-Bar-Buffet-Party-023.jpg" title="Treat Your Family to a Spring Movie Party!" /></a></div>
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It has been nearly two weeks since I moved to the <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> mobile network and I must say, I'm very pleased! The transition was definitely tax cash well spent. With such a good deal on my new phone and data plan, I was able to spend a little extra cash on a special party for my family over the weekend.<br />
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The <i>Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data of up to 10GB of 4G LTE</i> service<i> (then 2G) </i>has served my son and I well! While out running <a href="http://www.britneydearest.com/2017/03/a-great-way-busy-moms-on-go-maximize-tax-cash.html" target="_blank">errands</a> I have been using my most-used apps, my son has been playing his favorite gaming apps and we aren't even close to reaching our 10GB of 4G LTE data yet! It's a nice adjustment going from 1GB a month to 10GB and the price for <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> is perfect for my budget, costing me $49.88 each month. I have been using the Samsung Galaxy On5 smartphone which retails at the very reasonable price of $119 at Walmart stores. <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> also gives customers the option to bring in their own phone and purchase a <i>SIM Kit</i> for only $19.88.<br />
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I found everything I needed in the electronics department at my local Walmart store.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OLPB9TfTWTQ/WNX73cw0PVI/AAAAAAAALLM/F73pn8Nd1NcQ1jyBxZOw4BfSTKvYt5wFgCLcB/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Max-Tax-Cash-08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#yourtaxcash, #cbias, #shop, Walmart Family Mobile PLUS, Collective Bias, spring, party, ice cream, bar, buffet, diy, britney dearest" border="0" height="617" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OLPB9TfTWTQ/WNX73cw0PVI/AAAAAAAALLM/F73pn8Nd1NcQ1jyBxZOw4BfSTKvYt5wFgCLcB/s640/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Max-Tax-Cash-08.jpg" title="Celebrate Spring With a Movie Party" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">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/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile</a> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">or</span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"> </i><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "source sans pro", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">your local Walmart for current pricing.</i><br />
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Last weekend my family and I drove three hours away from our home for a mini-vacation taking five kids with us! Our own children plus my niece and nephew. Everyone had working tablets except my youngest son, Gabriel, who somehow broke his own tablet while ago, preventing it from charging or powering on. To keep him from pouting about being bored during the ride or watching a movie he didn't like, he used our Samsung Galaxy On5 smartphone which gained him bragging rights as the only kid in the vehicle whose handheld device had data access.<br />
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<b>A Monthly Bonus!</b><br />
In addition to the great price of the mobile service in its entirety, <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> added a special perk- each line receives a free monthly <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">VUDU</a> movie credit (a $7 value, the same as a new release rental) for customers to watch through gaming systems, Chromecast, a Smart TV, VUDU Spark, ROKU, and other compatible devices. Speaking of which...<br />
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My kids love having family movie nights. We usually keep things pretty simple- after dinner, we pop popcorn and cuddle up in front of the television, however, the VUDU perk along with a new beautiful season led me to take things up a notch. As mentioned earlier, the low cost of my new <a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> phone and data plan I was able to spend a little extra cash on decorations and desserts and turned our movie night from basic to beautiful! The kids picked out the dessert choice while I chose the theme.<br />
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We had a spring themed ice cream movie party complete with our favorite toppings and cones, DIY topping labels and props, purple daisies, and bunnies!<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>The Table Setup</b><br />
I used some basic tips to help me set up the table:<br />
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• I first found a base. This can be a tablecloth or table runner.<br />
• I knew that I wanted a bright white look so for my dishes I kept them clear and white.<br />
• I added flowers and the little bunnies to compliment my base and add a decorative spring touch.<br />
• I moved the items around until I was satisfied with the placement.<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b>DIY labels</b><br />
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Items I used:<br />
▪ Index cards<br />
▪ Washi tape<br />
▪ Paper edger scissors (compliments of my daughter)<br />
▪ Gold permanent marker<br />
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I folded each card and cut the bottoms off using the edger scissors. I added the washi tape in different directions then labeled each card.<br />
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My kids were so excited when they came home from school and saw the goodies set up. With their jackets and backpacks still on, they instantly wanted to dig right in. My initial response was for them to wait until after dinner when we would be ready for the movie to start, but I caved and allowed them to have it sooner for an after school snack. Hashtag "momwin".<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-otWbCETNkuQ/WNYYjDOWnhI/AAAAAAAALLo/vLu3UeHdrpsbLDLyuw64cNBe5CQ7uu3IQCLcB/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Ice-Cream-Bar-Buffet-Party-029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="#yourtaxcash, #cbias, #shop, Walmart Family Mobile PLUS, Collective Bias, spring, party, ice cream, bar, buffet, diy, britney dearest" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-otWbCETNkuQ/WNYYjDOWnhI/AAAAAAAALLo/vLu3UeHdrpsbLDLyuw64cNBe5CQ7uu3IQCLcB/s1600/Walmart-Family-Mobile-Plus-Ice-Cream-Bar-Buffet-Party-029.jpg" title="Celebrate Spring With a Movie Party" /></a></div>
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A day earlier, my daughter and I shared some mommy-daughter bonding time while making a few props to go along with the party theme.<br />
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Following dinner, we went for the ice cream once again. We popped a couple of bags of popcorn and allowed the kids to vote on one of two movies we would watch.<br />
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We used our ROKU device to connect to VUDU and downloaded the ROKU Remote app onto our Samsung Galaxy On5. It worked without a hitch and we were all able to relax and enjoy the movie!<br />
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By the end of the night, one kid had fallen asleep while the other two (plus Luke) watched the movie... for a second time.<br />
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<a href="http://cbi.as/7e-jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walmart Family Mobile PLUS</a> has given me the opportunity to subscribe to a mobile service that is beneficial in my daily use and affordable. By adding the monthly VUDU movie credit, more value is added to the plan, as well as to family bonding.<br />
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Does your family have any regular weekly or monthly activities you enjoy together? If so, comment below with details! Thanks for visiting!<br />
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DIY, Family Fun, Featured, Sponsored, Spring, Walmart Family Mobile

Max Your Tax Cash and Treat Your Family to a Movie Party!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. This story and all opinions are mine alone. #Y...

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/ Friday, March 31, 2017

Our first Time Touring a Cave at Talking Rocks Cavern!

/ Monday, March 27, 2017

Max Your Tax Cash and Treat Your Family to a Movie Party!

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