Easter Bunny Photo Experience to open February 26 at The Avenues Mall in Jacksonville

February 18, 2016 By Marijean

EASTER BUNNY PHOTO EXPERIENCE IS COMING SOON TO THE AVENUES TO DELIGHT FAMILIES

Families can also visit the Caring Bunny – a unique event in a subdued environment tailored to special needs children

Simon®, a global leader in retail real estate, is hosting its annual Easter celebration festivities at The Avenues, offering families the chance to participate in traditional and unique seasonal events.

Save time and avoid the line with Bunny by Appointment! Now you can reserve your magical moment with Bunny online at http://simon.noerrbunny.com.

The Bunny Photo Experience begins Friday, February 26 and runs through Saturday, March 26 in Center Court. Kids will have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion.

The presenting sponsor for the 2016 Bunny Photo Experience is The Gymboree Corporation – including its Gymboree and Crazy 8 clothing brands.

The Avenues’ Caring Bunny™ event will offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by Simon and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 90 Simon® properties will host the Caring Bunny this season. Promotional assistance for Caring Bunny has been provided by Autism Speaks.

On Sunday, March 6 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for children’s cherished visit with the Bunny. The subdued environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

• Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the photo set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains for the duration of the event.

• Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.

• Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

Marijean

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

That’s It. All Natural Fruit Bar Review and Giveaway @ThatsitFruit #giveaway

February 18, 2016 By Marijean

I am always looking for healthy snacks for my family. Something quick and easy, but healthy is the key. When I heard about That’s it. all natural fruit bars I was very interested in trying them!

All 9 delicious varieties

That’s it. makes 9 delicious all natural varieties of fruit bars. They each only contain 2 ingredients with no added sugar.

Here are the flavors:

Apple Blueberry (Ingredients: 1 apple and 20 blueberries)
Apple Strawberry (Ingredients: 1 apple and 12 strawberries)
Apple Mango (Ingredients: 1 apple and 1 mango)
Apple Banana (1 apple and 1 banana)
Apple Coconut (Ingredients: 1 apple and 1/4 coconut)
Apple Pear (Ingredients: 1 apple and 1 pear)
Apple Cherry (Ingredients: 1 apple and 10 cherries)
Apple Apricot (Ingredients: 1 apple and 3 apricots)
Apple Pineapple (Ingredients: 1 apple and 1/4 pineapple)

These bars also contain no preservatives, are gluten free, all natural, kosher, vegan and raw. They are either 100 or 110 calories each, have fiber, low fat and non GMO.

Back of the Apple and Banana packaging

I must say, these bars are delicious. You can really taste each fruit when you bite into them and they smell just like the fruit. My 7 year old daughter absolutely loves bringing them to school for snack each day, and my husband takes a bar every day to work. I love knowing that my family is snacking healthy. They are perfect to throw in your diaper bag or purse, and take with you for family trips or even business trips! With all of the different varieties offered, I am sure you and your family will love these bars as well.

Apple and Apricot fruit bar

You can purchase a 9 bar sample pack to try out the different flavors for $12.49 here. You can also purchase your favorite flavor in a 12 bar pack for $19.99 here. If you sign up for their emails you will get 15% off your first order(excludes sample packs).

Connect with That’s it. Website Instagram Twitter Facebook Pinterest

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to try That’s it. fruit bars? A lucky reader will win a 9 bar sample pack and tote! Giveaway ends 3/1!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I was given a product in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based on my experience with the product. I am not affiliated with the company and everything in this review is my opinion.

Marijean

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

I See Me! 15th Anniversary Children’s Book Review and Giveaway #review #giveaway #iseemebooks

February 17, 2016 By Marijean

Recently I was given the opportunity to review a children’s book from I See Me!. I See Me offers a large variety of personalized children’s books and gifts. Right now they are celebrating their 15th anniversary of the book “My Very Own Name.”

My Very Own Name is a beautifully illustrated personalized children’s book that helps children to learn to recognize letters and spell their names. Beautifully illustrated animals bring letters one by one to create the child’s first and last names in rhyme. At the end, the animals celebrate because they’ve created the perfect name.

As an added personal touch, this award-winning book includes the child’s birth date, a printed dedication from the sender, an illustrated encyclopedia of 61 animals and a special letter to your child from the co-creators of the book. When ordering, customers have the option to upload a photo of their child to appear on the dedication page of the book. Children love seeing their names and photos in print! This storybook is made in the USA and written by Maia Haag.

My Very Own Name – 15th Anniversary Edition

This book was sent to me for my 4 year old boy. For the dedication page, I chose his Preschool photo he just had taken. His birthday is on the page as well as a dedication from me, his Mommy! The picture came out crystal clear. It really is a beautiful page and it is something he will cherish forever.

Each page of the book tells the story of an animal that starts with letters in the child’s name. My son’s name is Anthony, so there are 8 pages of different animals for each different letter. Same with his last name, so the book has a lot of pages! It also has an Animal Encyclopedia in the back telling your child more about each individual animal. My son loves this book and loves reading it with his big sister. This is the perfect gift for any child!

This book would make a perfect Easter gift additional in your child’s basket!

I See Me! offers so many other products that can be personalized such as Lunchboxes / Puzzles /Coloring Books/ Placemats / Stickers and Growth Charts! Something for every occasion!

The cut off date for customers to order with US standard delivery and have delivered by Easter is March 11th.

EASTER Link: http://www.iseeme.com/easter-personalized-childrens-gifts.html

Right now I See Me! is celebrating 15 years of connecting friends and families together, receive 20% off all purchases through 2/19 with code CELEBRATE

Want an I See Me! book for your very own? You can visit them at their website, or through social media on their Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest accounts. Sign up to receive email notifications and promotions at this link.

*GIVEAWAY**

Would you like a copy of the 15th Anniversary edition? One lucky reader will win!! Giveaway ends 3/1!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I was given a product in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based on my experience with the product. I am not affiliated with the company and everything in this review is my opinion.

Marijean

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

P!nk To Partner With Disney’s ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS + New Poster!!! #DisneyAlice

February 16, 2016 By Marijean

THREE-TIME GRAMMY®-WINNING SINGER/SONGWRITER P!NK

TO PARTNER WITH DISNEY ON “ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS,”

STARRING JOHNNY DEPP, ANNE HATHAWAY, MIA WASIKOWSKA, RHYS IFANS, WITH HELENA BONHAM CARTER AND SACHA BARON COHEN

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS opens in theaters everywhere on May 27th!

Walt Disney Studios is partnering with three-time GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter P!nk on the studio’s upcoming release “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

P!nk will write and record an original song which will appear in the film and on the motion picture soundtrack from Walt Disney Records featuring four-time Academy Award® nominee Danny Elfman’s score. She has also recorded a cover version of the iconic song “White Rabbit” for the film’s marketing campaign.

“Alice Through the Looking Glass” is an all-new spectacular adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories which stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Ifans, with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. The film opens in U.S. theaters on May 27, 2016.

Like ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyAlice

Follow ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS on Instagram: https://instagram.com/DisneyAlice

Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

http://movies.disney.com/alice-through-the-looking-glass

About P!nk:

Since her debut in 2000, P!nk (Alecia Moore) has released seven records, sold over 60 million albums, over 130 million singles, over 2.4 million DVDs worldwide and has had 14 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (four at #1). In addition, she is the recipient of three GRAMMY® Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, six MTV Video Music Awards, two MTV Europe Awards, two People’s Choice Awards and was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2013. Her “The Truth About Love” World Tour played 142 shows in 13 countries. In the fall of 2014, she released a side project with singer/songwriter Dallas Green entitled “You+Me.” Their album, “rose ave.,” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Folk Album chart and #2 on Billboard’s Digital Album chart. In 2015, P!nk became the newest UNICEF Ambassador. She is also a huge supporter of various charities, including: Make a Wish Foundation, Autism Speaks, Human Rights Campaign and No Kid Hungry. She is currently a spokesperson for COVERGIRL, and made her acting debut in Lionsgate’s “Thanks for Sharing,” alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo.

About The Film:

In Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” Alice returns to the whimsical world of Underland and travels back in time to save the Mad Hatter. Directed by James Bobin, who brings his own unique vision to the spectacular world Tim Burton created on screen with “Alice in Wonderland,” the film is written by Linda Woolverton based on characters created by Lewis Carroll. The producers are Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd and Tim Burton. John G. Scotti serves as executive producer. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” reunites the cast from the 2010 worldwide blockbuster phenomenon, including Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Matt Lucas and Helena Bonham Carter and introduces new characters played by Rhys Ifans and Sacha Baron Cohen. Also back are the talented voices of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Barbara Windsor and Paul Whitehouse, and they are joined by Toby Jones.

About Walt Disney Studios:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

Marijean

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

Meowbox Review and Giveaway

February 16, 2016 By Anne

We adopted our third kitty two years ago. Wow it does not seem like it was that long ago. Angel is our baby. She is two. Spice and Zena are about 4 1/2 years old. They get along pretty good. Having a new puppy in the house has certainly thrown them for a loop. Since the puppy, it seems like we forget to play with our kitties like we use to.

That’s where Meowbox comes in nicely. Meowbox is a monthly cat subscription box, full of fun toys and yummy goodies all delivered to your door. All the items are chosen with care and all edible treats are made in Canada or the US. Each box is personalized by hand with your kitty’s name, which a sweet touch. 🙂

We received a Meowbox, or BarkBox for cats, for our three kitties. The box was originally sent for my contributor’s cat, Scarlet. However Scarlet let Spice, Zena and Angel have a little fun.

When we opened the box “Hi Scarlet” was right there on the box to greet us. Inside were fun looking toys and treats.

Right away I took out the blue Catnip and Crinkle Squid toy and placed it on the ground. Spice was immediately drawn to it. Then Angel came along and the two of them started playing together.

Meowbox supports small businesses when they can and include well-made handcrafted toys and treats.

They give back. They have a program called One Box Can: with every meowbox you purchase, they will give a can of food to a shelter cat. Plus, you can track your individual can to see where you’ve made a difference. And for those picky kitties or ones with special dietary requirements, you now have the option to receive meowboxes with no edible items. We replace food and treats with more toys and goodies. (Our cats are not big on treats so this would be a great option for us.

Meowbox costs $32.95 for 1 month, $27.95 for 3 months ($83.85 upfront), $22.95 for 6 months ($137.70 upfront). They offer free shipping and they ship to Canada, US. Each box includes 5-7 items.

SCARLET10 (Get 10% off your first subscription with code SCARLET10 at https://meowbox.com)

Follow Meowbox on all of their social media channels:
https://meowbox.com
Facebook.com/meowbox
Twitter.com/meowbox

Win a Meowbox for your kitty! Enter to win below:

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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!