First Responders receive FREE Admission to Busch Gardens Tampa from Oct. 11th till Nov. 24th

October 11, 2017 By Marijean

FLORIDA’S FIRST RESPONDERS RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY

“Thank You” Offer for First Responders Good from October 11th to November 24th

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is honoring Florida first responders through November. From October 11th to November 24th, first responders will receive free admission to Busch Gardens, and four discounted tickets for friends and family at 50% off the regular ticket price.

“A first responder’s mission is to selflessly protect us each day, and this special offer is a small way to show our appreciation of their dedication to the communities they call home,” said Stewart Clark, president and general manager of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Qualifying first responders include:

All Florida fire rescue first responders
Florida emergency medical services employees (EMT/EMS)
911 dispatchers
All Florida police and sheriff officers
Florida Highway Patrol
Florida Department of Corrections
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission field officers
Florida Forest Service Forest Rangers
Florida Park Service law enforcement
Department of Homeland Security law enforcement agents
Florida Department of Environmental Protection law enforcement

Qualifying first responders should visit buschgardenstampa.com for more information and register using the ID.me verification system. 911 operators must take advantage of the First Responder offer at the front gate. Tickets must be used by November 24th. Restrictions apply.

Members of the United States military and the National Guard can take advantage of the Waves of Honor® program, which provides free admission to the SeaWorld® and Busch Gardens® parks, and Sesame Place® for active members of U.S. armed forces and as many as three direct dependents per service member.

Be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following @buschgardens on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snap Chat.

Marijean

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

Grow your own Avocado Tree at Home with Avoseedo #avoseedo

October 7, 2017 By Marijean

GROW YOUR OWN AVOCADO TREE AT HOME!

AvoSeedo avocado tree germinator bowl that makes it easy for everyone to grow their own plant at home from a simple avocado pit. Easy to use for all ages of amateur avocado arborists.

Clever AvoSeedo bowl design keeps the avocado pit immersed in just the right amount of water to grow effectively. Made for durability from recyclable, non-toxic materials and is reusable for other vegetables like lettuce, celery, carrot tops! Germinate and grow an avocado tree in your own home, whatever the climate. Fun family (Millennial parents, their young kids, grandma/grandpa) project to make a tree sprout and watch it grow from the pit of a common avocado. Increase kids’ understanding of ecology, interconnections in nature, responsibility and care for the environment in a participatory and concrete way.

[arve url=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/236597018″ /]

Save 20% on any AvoSeedo avocado grower with code sp20 or any other product and enjoy FREE shipping too. Visit the AvoSeedo Shop today and get growing today!
https://shop.avoseedo.com/

Marijean

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

Beautiful Photo Blankets from Collage.com (Review and Giveaway)

September 29, 2017 By Marijean

The holidays are approaching quickly, now is the time to start thinking of gifts for friends and family. Sometimes it is not easy to think of gifts for loved ones. You aren’t sure if they have something you are thinking of, but you don’t just want to give a gift card. I was contacted by Collage.com to review two of their customizable photo blankets. These would definitely make great gifts!

Collage.com offers a variety of photo blankets to choose from. They offer: Fleece, Sherpa, Printed Woven, Plush Fleece, Plush Sherpa and Woven Image. The sizes of the blankets depend on which blanket style you choose. I chose to review the Printed Woven blanket and the Woven Image blanket.

The ordering process was super easy. I chose the biggest size available (60×80) for both blankets because I knew I would be using one on my couch and one on my bed. You can add as many photos you want to the blanket and rearrange the photos to show exactly where you want them on the blanket. you can upload photos right from your computer, Facebook and Instagram. You can add backgrounds, stickers effects and text. Possibilities are endless!

I chose the Printed Woven with lots of family pictures. For my second blanket, I chose the Woven Image with one large photo. I am so excited how both of them turned out. Each blanket arrived in a clear carry case great for storage or travel. The blankets are super soft and they feel very heavy-duty. I love the large size of the blankets and each photo pops with color. The photos look absolutely perfect on the blanket.

In conclusion, I am very happy and impressed with the quality of these blankets from Collage.com. I believe they are 100% worth the price, and I love how you can customize them any way you wish. These blankets would make great holiday gifts, wedding gifts, Anniversary gifts and birthday gifts!

All of the blankets are backed by Collage.com‘s Just Right 100% satisfaction guarantee: If a customer doesn’t like his or her order, they make it right or refund money.
New customers also get 60% off their first order. There’s a banner in the top left corner of the page where new customers can get the 60% off discount on their very first order.

Please click here to order!

A great thing about these blankets is that each one of them is machine washable! No need to take to a dry cleaner!

*I received the mentioned blankets in exchange for this review. All thoughts are my own.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will win a gift card to Collage.com for a photo blanket of their choice! In the comments below, please let me know which photo blanket you will choose if you win. Giveaway ends on 10/13. U.S. residents only.

Marijean

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

5 Ways To Protect The Health Of Your Family At Home

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

In a world full of surprises, it isn’t always possible to be certain of your family’s safety. This may result in you spending a lot of your time worrying about your loved ones. However, it is much easier to take control when you are at home. Your home should be somewhere that you can go to in order to feel safe and relaxed. It should be free from all of the stresses and strains of the outside world. If you want to do everything in your power to ensure that your family are happy and healthy, you will need to read on. Below are five ways that you can protect the health of your family, when you are at home.

Hire Exterminator services

If you are struggling to deal with pests, you should turn to the professionals for help. This is the best way to be certain about the results that you will receive. You can find pest control near Mathews NC. This service will provide long-lasting solutions for problems with pests like termites, bed bugs, mice and rats, cockroaches, spiders, mosquitoes, and many more. This is an essential step for you to take, if you are looking to protect the health of your loved ones. Pests can spread harmful bacteria and diseases. It is a terrible idea to let a pest infestation get out of hand. When you find yourself in this situation, it is vital that you act immediately. You should also trust a company that provides a service which is suitable for children and pets. You don’t want to be replacing one worry with another. In order to avoid this, you need to hire a company that doesn’t use chemicals that will be harmful to your family.

Invest in health insurance

When thinking about the health of your family, you need to look to the future. Don’t wait for problems to come your way, try to pre-empt them. Investing in health insurance is an extremely wise move to make. This investment will ensure that you get the best health care in the event of an emergency. It will also help you to be certain that you can afford any necessary treatments that could cover doctor’s consultations in a reputable facility that has top-of-the-line equipment such as medical oxygen sensors, patient monitors, and the likes. Instead of having to face the burden of an illness, and a huge bill, at the same time, health insurance will help to remove the pressure of paying your family’s medical fees. Good quality medical insurance will also allow you to schedule in regular health checks. This is the best way to ensure that all of your family are fighting fit. Of all the areas that you could be investing your money, health care is by far the most responsible. Don’t spend your days worrying. Instead, take control of the situation and introduce a strong backup plan.

Purify your air

Clean air is hugely beneficial for the health of your family. Why not invest in an air purifier? Or in a shop air filtration system, if you enjoy doing some woodworking at home. This is a great way to benefit your respiratory system. If any members of your family suffer with severe allergies, an air purifier will provide welcome relief. It will also allow you all to get a good night’s sleep, as it helps with snoring, wheezing, and coughing. If you aren’t in a position to invest in an air purifier, you should take the natural route. Try to open up your windows, and doors, as much as possible. One of the worst things for your health is to live in an environment that is filled with stale, and stagnant, air. You should also try to arrange family hikes. Not only is this a great opportunity to explore the great outdoors, it will also help you, and your family, to breathe in some fresh air. Alternatively, you could spend time together in your back-yard. Whatever you do, just try to find some clean air to enjoy.

Put together a medical kit

Every home should have a medical kit. This is the best way to be prepared for emergencies. In the case of an emergency, it is important that everyone in your family knows where to go. If you have a medical kit, fetching it will become an instinctive step. Make sure that you do your research in order to find out what items should be stored in your kit. You should also be certain to replenish your stock on a regular basis. It is always the one thing that you’re missing that you need the most. If anyone in your family has specific medical requirements, it will be hugely beneficial to keep their specialist equipment in one place. For instance, if one of your children suffers from asthma, they will need to have a back-up inhaler. If this inhaler is constantly being moved around your home, it will be difficult to find it in an emergency. However, if it is stored safely in your medical kit, everyone will know where to run to. You should also consider having a second kit in your car. This is especially important if anyone in your family likes to take part in outdoor activities. Make sure that you always have the tools that you need.

Create a healthy diet and exercise plan

It is vital that you encourage your entire family to embrace a healthy attitude towards diet and exercise. One way to do this is by putting together a clear plan. Don’t just take this on alone, make sure that your entire family gets involved. Work together to make your household as healthy, and happy, as possible. You could work out together, take it in turns to prepare healthy meals, and even get up early to do yoga as a family. It might feel a little strange at first, especially if you’re not all used to such a healthy approach, but eventually you will begin to see the benefits. By working together you will the constant motivation to keep going. You could even make it a competition to see who can make the most positive changes to their lifestyle.

Marijean

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

Carer’s Considerations – 7 Tips For Getting Your Home Baby-Ready

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

Carer’s Considerations – 7 Tips For Getting Your Home Baby-Ready

If there is one true statement you can make about babies, it’s that once your back is turned, they seem to develop super human abilities. A three-month-old baby who hasn’t yet learned to roll can magically appear on the other side of the room. Keeping babies safe when they are infants is one thing–by the time they start crawling and then walking, watch out!

For those soon to be blessed with the joy of a little one in their home, preparing ahead of time will save you headaches in the long term.

Firstly, let’s take a look at some of the risks and solutions surrounding safety issues for small children, both immobile and mobile.

Equipment

Organising your travelling equipment is a priority because simply getting your baby home will involve transportation of some kind. The key point here is to buy new. Australian safety standards have changed over the years and using secondhand equipment which doesn’t meet those standards is both dangerous and illegal.

Many people don’t realise that strollers and prams are also covered by Australian safety laws. Purchasing from a reputable company with quality brands will cut out the guesswork. For those looking for the peace of mind of buying from an award winning supplier, you can shop for a huge range of prams here and find assistance with fitting car seats and harnesses.

The above information can also be applied to:

Car seats
High chairs
Cots and bassinets

Corner protection

Babies are poorly designed. They have large unwieldy heads, out of proportion to the rest of their bodies and, until such time they grow into it, they are prone to falling. Through the use of simple rubber corner protectors, you can negate or minimise injury incurred through falls.

Cupboard, drawer, fridge and window locks

Whilst preventing baby from accessing places where dangerous goods may be stored–the ideal solution would be to also ensure, where appropriate, poisonous, sharp or hazardous items are stored away from the home in a locked shed.

Within the home, the use of baby and child safety locks on doors, drawers and windows is a godsend. There are a number of effective options on the market including adhesive and magnetic types.

Curtain cords

The hanging danger caused by long curtain cords is a very real one. Ensure long cords are tied up high and kept well away from cots and bassinets. Better still, if possible, replace the blinds completely with cordless operating mechanisms. Keep this issue in mind when visiting or having small ones baby sat by friends and relatives.

Stairs and doors

The stair guard has evolved and developed over the years but the basic design is still effective. Have a guard at both ends of the staircase to prevent littlies from climbing up the stairs and tumbling down. Stair guards are also effective at zoning off your home–confining children to rooms where they can be safely monitored.

Baby walkers and anything with wheels should be restricted to downstairs and within a confined, flat area.

Stove

Ideally, keep small children out of the kitchen unless they are confined to a high chair. As a precautionary measure, make a habit of turning pot handles towards the back of the stove. Oven locks are available but since the glass of an oven heats up when in use, it is more effective just to keep them clear of the kitchen when cooking.

Bath time

We all know babies and small children should never be left unattended in the bath due to the risk of drowning. However, we can often forget there are other hazards involved in bathtime including:

Slipping and falling
Flicking on or touching the hot tap. (Modern flick taps make this easier than the old turn knob handles)

When using flick mixers, always move the handle on to ‘cold’ when not in use. Have your hot water system thermostat set to a lower heat setting.

Unfortunately, the above list is far from comprehensive but it is a place to start. Taking the time to audit and rectify your home safety is time well spent. Providing little ones with interesting, interactive toys can go some way to keeping them engaged and safe. Don’t leave it until it is too late to protect the most vulnerable members of your household.