The Avenues Mall TO HOST “MUPPET BABIES”-THEMED DISNEY JUNIOR PLAY DATE Event

March 13, 2018 By Marijean

The Avenues Mall TO HOST “MUPPET BABIES”-THEMED DISNEY JUNIOR PLAY DATE Event

The Avenues Mall invites the community to a “Muppet Babies”-themed Disney Junior Play Date event. Aimed to entertain and delight children ages 18 months to 3 years old, the event will take place on March 31 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Premiering March 23, Disney Junior’s reimagined “Muppet Babies” chronicles the hilarious playroom antics of the young Kermit the Frog, Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal and brand-new Muppet Baby, Summer Penguin. Under the watchful eye of Miss Nanny, the Muppet Babies use their imaginations to embark on countless adventures that take them to the farthest corners of the universe and demonstrate to young viewers the power and potential of imaginative play.

During the “Muppet Babies”-themed Disney Junior Play Date event, families will participate in a variety of activities including a Color Bingo Game, craft projects, balloon art and more. The fun starts at 10 a.m. near Center Court behind Starbucks. This event does not include live character appearances.

In October 2017, Simon announced its exciting new family programming collaboration with Disney Junior, which includes the Disney Junior Play Dates, ongoing events taking place throughout the year at 100 shopping centers across the country. The Disney Junior Play Dates events will be featured throughout the year and include on-mall activities around Holiday, Easter and other seasonal celebrations.

About The Avenues

The Avenues is Jacksonville’s premier family shopping destination. A multi-level indoor center offering 1.1 million square-feet of shopping, The Avenues is home to 5 anchor stores including Belk, Dillard’s, Forever 21, JCPenney and Sears, plus more than 150 of the most exciting specialty retailers in Northeast Florida. Discover your favorite shopping and dining destinations including Aldo, BoxLunch, Buffalo Wild Wings, bareMinerals, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Brookstone, Crazy 8, Foot Locker, H&M, LOFT, LUSH, MAC Cosmetics, New York & Company, Sketchers, Victoria’s Secret and more. The mall is conveniently located off I-95 at the intersection of Philips Highway (US1) and Southside Boulevard. Visit us Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 – 6 p.m. For additional information, please visit www.shoptheavenues.com or call 904-363-3054.

About Simon

Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

Marijean

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

Mary Poppins Returns

March 6, 2018 By Anne

In the sequel, which arrives in theatres this Christmas, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS stars Emily Blunt as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure; Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London; Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; and Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. The film also introduces three new Banks’ children played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

Like MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marypoppinsreturns/

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MARY POPPINS RETURNS arrives in theatres everywhere on December 25, 2018!

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Serve up some Old-Fashioned Caramel Cinnamon Rolls for your Valentine on Valentine’s Day!! #PremierProtein

February 12, 2018 By Marijean

Old-Fashioned Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

Makes 9 Buns

Ingredients

Rolls

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (or 1 packet)

1 cup Premier Protein® Caramel Shake warmed in the microwave or on the stovetop to about (110° F), or warm to touch but not boiling

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus additional for greasing bowl and pan, melted

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour plus additional for kneading and rolling out

1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Glaze

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon Premier Protein® Caramel Shake

Directions

In medium bowl, sprinkle yeast over 1 cup warm Premier Protein® Caramel Shake and stir to combine. Let sit for 3 minutes. Then stir in 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, egg and mix until well until combined. Gradually add in flour, stirring after each addition. Once dough is no longer too sticky to handle, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 3 to 5 minutes to make moderately soft dough. Shape dough into a ball.

Place dough in lightly greased bowl; turn once. Cover and let rise in a warm place until size has doubled (about 1 hour). Punch dough down, cover and let rise again for 1 additional hour. Punch dough down. Grease an 8 x 8-inch glass or metal baking dish and set aside.

Combine 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in separate bowl. On lightly floured surface roll dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Brush about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining butter evenly over the dough using a pastry brush. Sprinkle 2/3 of the cinnamon sugar mixture over.

Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut dough into 9 even 12-inch strips. Roll up each strip tightly, sealing the end by pressing it into the dough. Arrange rolls in prepared pan. Pour remaining butter over the buns, then sprinkle remaining cinnamon and sugar on top. Let rise, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. While cooling the rolls slightly, prepare glaze. Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and Premier Protein® Caramel Shake in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle rolls with glaze. Serve warm.

Marijean

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

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Jacksonville Zoo with B1G1 Deal until the 14th!

February 12, 2018 By Marijean

Come and celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens!!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is offering an admission special. Buy one regularly priced adult ticket and receive one free general admission ticket of equal or lesser value. Download coupon here, or be green and show your coupon on your phone. Coupon valid Feb. 10 – 14 only. Cannot be combined with any other coupon, discount or offer including Zoo Value Tickets. One free admission per coupon. One coupon per transaction.

Also, make sure to check out the new tiger cubs that just made their first public appearance on February 10th! the are adorable!

Marijean

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

How to get your family ready for vacation

February 1, 2018 By Marijean

Going on family vacation is a brilliant opportunity for you and your loved ones to escape the demands of daily life. It should be the perfect chance for you to reconnect as a family and to create memories that will last a lifetime. However, failing to have a clear plan in place will make it extremely difficult for you to relax. Instead, you will be forced to deal with everything at the last minute. It will send your stress levels skyrocketing and could undermine your entire experience. If you want to prevent this from happening, you will need to work through the following steps.

Plan your family outfits

When you are deciding what to pack for your family getaway, you should make the most of the opportunity to purchase some treats. Why not splash out on a couple of new outfits for you to enjoy on a night out? You could also purchase some new and exciting clothes for your family members. It will provide them with an incentive to get packing and to take pride in their appearance. You could plan a family outing to your local mall or save time by visiting Nicki’s online store to find quality items.

Prepare for the climate that you are visiting

Another important step is to prepare for the climate that you are visiting. If you are traveling to a cold location, you will need to invest in thermal pajamas, purchase hand warmers, and bring along plenty of layers. Alternatively, if you are exploring a warm climate, you will need to take bug spray, sunscreen, linen clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.

Think up activities to enjoy in your hotel room

During your vacation, it is vital that you get out and about as much as possible. You need to interact with the local community and keep your eyes peeled for any sites of natural beauty or cultural significance. However, it won’t be possible for you to spend all your time outdoors. That is why you should think up plenty of activities to enjoy in your hotel room. It will prevent your family from becoming bored and arguments from breaking out. If you are struggling for ideas, why not talk to your hotel reception? Perhaps they have an indoor games room that you could enjoy. Or maybe they have a selection of second-hand books that have been left behind by previous guests.

Purchase a scrapbook or photo album

Finally, you should think about how you are going to document your travels. Before you set off, why not purchase a scrapbook or photo album? If you decide on the former option, you should also invest in craft materials that will come in handy when it is time to decorate your pages. It would also be an excellent time for you to evaluate your family camera and consider an upgrade. If you are enjoying a once in a lifetime experience, it is vital that you can document them effectively.