Be Prepared for the 2016 Hurricane Season #JAXREADY

June 2, 2016 By Marijean

Hurricane season for the Atlantic basin begins today, June 1, 2016, and runs through November 30, 2016. We have already had two named storms and most predictions point to an above average expectation for hurricanes in 2016. Florida has been on a bit of a winning streak in recent years having gone just over 10 years without a category 3 or higher storm (Wilma in October 2005). Many of us have moved to Florida in that period since the last major hurricane struck and may need a refresher on what risk this time of year brings to our doorsteps.

What does a typical hurricane season look like?

Based on historical weather records dating back to 1950, the Atlantic region will typically experience 12 tropical storms with sustained winds of 39 mph, of which six turn into hurricanes with winds reaching 74 mph or greater, and three major hurricanes category 3 or higher with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Most of these hurricanes do not make landfall in the United States.

How many hurricanes typically hit Florida?

On average, one to two hurricanes (or more specifically, 1.75 hurricanes) make landfall on the US East coast every year. Of those, 40 percent hit Florida. Since 1851, 37 hurricanes have made direct hits on Florida.

There is little to no correlation between the total number of storms and those that make landfall in any given season. For example, 2010 was an extremely busy season, with 19 named storms and 12 hurricanes. Yet no hurricane, and only one tropical storm, made landfall in the US that year.

What should you do to prepare?

I have attached a couple of pages from a flyer distributed through my employer that are a great reference for storm preparation. Please review and share this detail with your friends and neighbors.

Practice putting up your storm shutters. Know how to do this before you have to do it. Make sure you have all of the tools and hardware necessary for this job organized and ready.

There is also a mobile app available from the City of Jacksonville called “JAXREADY” that will help you monitor weather threats and plan for evacuation in the event of a natural disaster.

Link: http://www.coj.net/mobile-apps/mobile-ap…

Thanks for reading this far and please be #JAXREADY!

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Free Donuts on National Donut Day, June 3rd

June 2, 2016 By Marijean

Image Source

Article was copied from Time.com

The wait is almost over. Every year, the first Friday in June is celebrated as National Donut Day—though lots of people refer to it by a different name: “Free Donut Day.” The holiday was first celebrated during the Great Depression, as a way for the Salvation Army to raise money and awareness for its social services, which among other things provided donuts and coffee to American soldiers during World War I.

Nowadays National Donut Day is mostly celebrated for freebie promotions at participating donut seller locations all over the country. (Several of the giveaways also collect donations for the Salvation Army and other causes.) Here are the donut freebies we know of so far, starting with the offers that require no purchase or other hoops to jump through in order to secure your free donut. We’ll add to the list as more free donut deals surface.

Krispy Kreme: Every customer gets a choice of any free donut on Friday, June 3, no purchase necessary.

Shipley Do-Nuts: Visit a participating location from 5 a.m. to noon on National Donut Day for a free donut.

Entenmann’s: A total of more than 150,000 donuts will be given away in more than a dozen cities around the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Louisville, New Haven, New York City, and San Diego, plus Entenmann’s is hosting a sweepstakes on Facebook with 10 lucky winners getting free donuts for a year.

Randy’s Donuts: Customers get free donut holes at this famous Los Angeles donut shop from 6 a.m. to noon on National Donut Day.

Lamar’s Donuts: Follow this Facebook link to get a “golden ticket” for a free donut on Friday, plus a free 16-ounce Lamar’s cup with any purchase.

Duck Donuts: Go to the Facebook page of Duck Donuts—a chain with dozens of East Coast locations stretching from the Jersey Shore to North Carolina—for a coupon valid for a free sugar donut on National Donut Day.

Dunkin Donuts: Get one free donut with the purchase of any beverage.

Cumberland Farms: Purchase any coffee or fountain drink between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Friday and take your pick of a free donut.

Honey Dew Donuts: Purchase any medium-size beverage and you’ll get a free (Up)Beat Cancer Donut, which is chocolate frosted, has blue and red sprinkles, and was created to raise cancer awareness.

Giant Eagle: Every Friday, including National Donut Day this Friday, Giant Eagle supermarket locations offer a half-dozen donuts for free when you purchase a half-dozen.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

5 Gifts to Give Dad on Father’s Day

May 30, 2016 By Marijean

Father’s Day is on June 19th. Here is a list of 5 gift ideas that your child/children can get Dad!!

Personal Creations is pretty much one of my favorite sites. They have so many wonderful gift ideas. I LOVE this personalized coffee mug. Dad will love to have his morning coffee in this. Click here to check out this coffee mug from Personalcreations.com.

Is Dad a Star Wars Fan? How about this really cute BB-8 USB Car Charger? It’s head rotates and makes sounds! Dad will love this for his morning and evening commutes! Click here to check out this Car Charger from Thinkgeek.com.

Does Dad like beer? On a hot summer day he will love the Corkcicle Chillsner Beer Chiller! Chillsner fits into a bottle’s neck so that his drink will cool off almost instantly, down to the last drop. Check this out on Amazon.

A really unique gift to give Dad would be a Spoil Box! They have many boxes to choose from for Father’s Day. This box is a sleek carry set! Check it out from Spoil.co!

Does Dad like to cook and to grill? This personalized cutting board would be perfect for him! Check it out at Gifts.com!

What are your children giving Dad for Father’s Day this year?

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

New Trailer for Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory #FindingDory #JustKeepSwimming #HaveYouSeenHer

May 28, 2016 By Marijean

FINDING DORY opens in theatres June 17, 2016.

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton. “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” reunites everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin on a search for answers about her past.

Check out the newest trailer for the movie!

http://ellentube.com/videos/0_9woqpg9d

NOTE:

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for best animated feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (original screenplay, original score, sound editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for best motion picture–comedy or musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s the fifth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 19 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 25 million—is the most liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

FINDING DORY

DISNEY•PIXAR

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Dollar Movies this Summer at Regal Cinemas #SMX16 @RegalMovies

May 27, 2016 By Marijean

Want something fun to do with the kids on summer break that doesn’t cost a fortune? How about heading out to the movies! Regal Cinemas is offering many awesome kids movies for only $1!!

Admission to the Summer Movie Express is only $1. Tickets available for purchase at the box office and all movies start at 10:00 am. Each week both movies play on both days. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute.