3DLightFX Super Affordable Present that is Going to Stand Out (Literally and Figuaratively)

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

How can something so simple delight every single person who walks in the room? Well because the concept is cool, it's different, AND it's Marvel. :) This Captain America Shield is just one of many 3DLightFX Deco Lights you can buy. They offer many of your most favorite characters, and all of them are downright awesome!  They have Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Hasbro, and more, and every single one of them is great in their own way.

I am Giving Away a Clock from AcuRite!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Last year I got my son a weather station from AcuRite. Today, that is still one of his most favorite gifts and he uses it almost every day. It has great visuals for showing what the weather is and will be, and it's a great way for him to be involved in 'adult conversations' because as he has told me many times, 'adults always talk about the weather!'

AcuRite Announces Top-5 Holiday Tech Gifts for 2016

#PlayLikeHasbro with the NERF N Strike Elite Mega Lightning Bow

My son had an awesome birthday party. The place...the people, and the gifts all made for a very special day. It was just exactly everythng a mom could hope for, while watching her son turn 9.  And while he did appreciate all of his gifts, there was one that def. stood out as a favorite: His Nerf N Strike Elite Mega Lignting Bow.

JUMP AROUND: The Perfect Birthday Package to Book at Sky Zone!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, working in conjunction with Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park and US Family Guide. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Evidently there are Sky Zone Trampoline Parks all over the world, but I didn't know that until recently when I was looking for a place to book a birthday party for my son.

These PlayMobil Carry Cases are FUN! with #Giveaway

Disclosure; This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

What's baby girl so excited about? PLAYMOBIL Carrying Cases!! She has good reason to be excited too, because these little kits are crazy cool awesome. These came the day before my little one came to visit grandmama for a few days. It was perfect timing.

Coco Key Water Resort: Everything You Could Want in a Family Hotel and More! #Orlando

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

THIS is a great place to celebrate back-to-school OR
one last hurrah before school starts (depending on where you are located). :)

This is a hotel review for Coco Key Water Resort in Orlando, Florida, but let me tell you right from the get-go, this is not an ordinary hotel!!

Pure Costumes Has Really Outdone Themselves for Halloween This Time!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Today I am grateful... grateful that instead of talking about hurricane damage (because outside of losing internet, we had none!! thank you to so many of you who sent e-mails to inquire, I will be in touch soon!!), I can talk about this Master Chief outfit from Pure Costumes! In a word, this costume is amazing. It makes my son look good and feel great!! I think he really thinks he's a super power in this bad boy (he likes it because it looks military, he's never actually played the video game Halo, which is where the character comes from... I know a lot of people have though, and love it!).

Protecting Their Eyes in a Stylish Fun Way: Real Kids Shades

Summer is definitely in full swing, and one thing you want to make sure you do is protect your children's eyes when they're outside. Real Kids Shades always has the best sunglasses for kids. They do look stylish but they also have a lot of features parents can appreciate.

Mangos Tropical Cafe in Orlando_A Fun Night of Dancing and Dining. You Know You Deserve It!

I've found a place where no one has their cell phone out, unless it's to take pictures of the show. Yep, it's that entertaining. This is a dining experience like no other, and you'll find it in Orlando (there's also one in South Beach/Miami)...it's called Mango's Tropcial Cafe-Orlando, and believe me, you don't want to miss it!

Magical View Room at Park Inn by Raddison in Orlando

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Park Inn by Raddison Resort & Conference Center Orlando

I used to think that it was ridiculous to pay a lot of money for a hotel room, and then not hardly use it all because you were out and about all day and night long doing something in the area. Then I stayed at a budget motel... to prove my point. Let me just say, a). I was wrong and b). never again!! So this trip, we opted to go back to our norm and stay someplace so much nicer. The Park Inn by Radisson Resort & Conference Center, located in sunny Orlando, Florida was in a word, 'perfect!' It's not 'cheap' but it's definitely affordable and you and your family will love it!

Everglades Holiday Park: We Took an Airboat Tour of the Everglades!!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by US Family Guide and Everglades Holiday Park.

This is a good friend of mine and my kids are lucky enough to call her aunt. She looks sweet and innocent, but I'm telling you, she's a crazy woman when it comes to adventure! For the last 13 years we've lived in separate states (though we did visit each other from time to time. She even flew up to Michigan to help decorate my youngest son's nursery...yeah, that's a good friend). That means we've got a lot of fun time to make up for, and to help us do that, this summer we've created a 'bucket list' of sorts that we're slowly ticking off one by one. Some of the things she puts on there really stretch my adventure zone. ;)  I'm no slouch in the adventure department, mind you. I'll travel most anywhere, ride any rollercoaster, and I really am down with trying new things... but some things make me nervous...like driving fast, airboats (not the boat itself, just the fact that we're over dangerous things...I know weird, we'd probably never end up in the drink, but if we did... lol!), and white water rafting (something on her list we haven't done yet *gasp*).

Vandor Has Marvel, Sonic, Snoopy and More!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I gotta tell ya, I'm all about the fun things like you see above. Bring me four Marvel Comics coasters, a pair of Sonic glasses and a Snoopy drinking cup and I'm just downright giddy. You can find all of these items and SO MUCH more at https://www.amazon.com/vandor.

What's Hasbro Up to This Summer? Our Family Loves to #PlayLikeHasbro

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Chances are high you already know and love Hasbro. So many of us grew up with the brand, that it simply feels like home. When you grow up and have kids, purchasing Hasbro items is comfortable and often times a way to re-live your youth...or ask questions like, "Where was this when I was growing up? I LOVE this thing!" The latter is how I feel about the following:

First the Marvel Captain America Civil War Blaster Reveal Shield.

This shield has a secret.

Bluefoot Pirate Adventure: THE Best Adventure in South Florida for Kids!!

This is a sponsored post. I worked with Bluefoot Pirate Adventures and US Family Guide to be able to bring you this quality information. All opinions stated in this post are genuine and my pirate-loving own.

The best adventure in South Florida for kids!

I have found THE best thing for kids to do in south Florida! It's located in Fort Lauderdale, it's reasonably priced, and it's entertaining from start to finish!! I suspected Bluefoot Pirate Adventures would be fun before I even got there, but lemme tell you, when you take this pirate ride, you are in for a treat!

It's important to make your reservations ahead of time, because only so many people can go out on the boat at once. That being said, it does accommodate a fairly large group and would be perfect for field trips, birthday parties, summer camp visits, etc., and the boat runs multiple times in a day (check the schedule online to see which days they are open, and what times they have available).

You have GOT to See This Place! Summer Fun at Tree Trek Adventure Park in Orlando

Aunt B and my youngest son about to have the time of their lives!

Before I tell you about our day at Tree Trek Adventure Park in Orlando, let me just note that this would be THE perfect place to have a birthday party for children or adults!! It's a one-of-a-kind day that everyone will remember, enjoy, and talk about for a long time to come.

He was excited, but  a little apprehensive. ;) You'll see him start to genuinely smile as he progresses.

We were heading up to Orlando for my birthday weekend. Not a party per se, but just a fun little something to do. We went to a show, we went to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) and we went to Tree Trek Adventure Park!

We went first thing in the morning, and if you know Florida, you understand why. You spend a few hours in the park, so you want to beat the heat (and this time of year, beat the rain too, though they do climb rain or shine).

There are multiple courses for kids, juniors and adults. They get progressively more difficult as you go. You can opt to stop any time you would like. I even saw one person stop mid-course. He was a little apprehensive about walking on the ropes. The guide was amazing with him. She helped him down and asked him if he  had a good time going the first course. She made him feel like it was no big deal, and didn't make him feel more uncomfortable or embarrassed (good job to the guide!).

Learning how to maneuver the clips (under the supervision of a guide).

After they harness you and everyone in the group going out shows up, they put you through a mini training session. They show you the safety features (both clips will never be opened at the same time) and how to use and maneuver with your equipment. It takes a couple of tries to get it down pat, but in no time at all, you'll be a master!

Small practice session where you are watched and guided as you learn.
This was the mini-zip and that is a genuine smile. ;)

They also put you on a mini zipline (there are more to come) while they watch and guide you. The smile you see in that picture was instant and genuine.

There are some similarities between the kids and the adult courses (the two we tried), of course the adult version puts you up much higher. Both courses has one of these nets to run across.

The courses my son ran were designed for children aged 7-11. My son went through both of them and did all 21 adventures. He had a blast! It was just the right amount of challenging-yet doable, and these courses definitely had a huge cool factor going on.

At the end of each game there was a platform to stand on, catch your breath, wait for friends (if friends were there too), and take in the scenery.

As I noted above, each task got a little harder as you went. You can see though, that even at that, they weren't too awful challenging for the younger crowd.

See the gloves he has on? You buy those for a minimal fee when you go in. Make sure you get them, they'll be soaked by the end of the course and they are worth their weight in gold. The bottles of water were unlimited, ice cold and free (extra nice, and essential to keep you hydrated).

After little man got a drink, it was back to the course for round two. You climb a rock wall to get to this course, so it's fun right from the get-go. My son has climbed a good number of rock walls in his day, but never with harness gear on, so he got tangled going up. Right away someone noticed and was spot on up there faster than you could say, 'he's a little tangled.' He got him situated fairly quickly (he climbed up to him so he wouldn't be scared, I think) and going again on his merry way.  And that was the way of it! The guides and others working there left you pretty much to your own devices while you were there, but they were instantly available if something happened. In fact, they would often times be there before you even knew you needed them.

The Tarzan ropes were fun to swing on and by this point my almost-chicken fella (at the beginning) was getting downright cocky. ;) 'Hey Mom, Watch!' and things like that... :)

And there he goes on the final zipline of the day, almost to the end of his second and final course (juniors and adults get to go to the giant zipline, but he's still not tall enough for that one yet). He had a such an amazing time up there in the trees!

Aunt B. went along because she is Ms. Adventure! The things she still wants to do... let me tell you...
Her 'bucket list' makes mine look weak.

Then we went over to the adult side of the course. Again the guide shows each person in the group how to use the equipment and you get a test run on the mini equipment. Then you're off on your own (with the guides never really far away).

You can see from this picture that the adult course is a lot higher in the air, even the very first one that is the least physically taxing.

At all times you are harnessed though, and safety precautions are in place. You always feel safe, which makes it easy to enjoy the courses and have a good time.

Each of the four adult courses gets more challenging as you go. Believe you me, it starts off pretty easy, but it doesn't stay that way. ;)  That's part of the fun. You just do what you're comfortable with, and then watch the others in your party progress to the tougher courses as they go (there's a walking trail underneath every course, including the children's). Or if you're really, really bad to the bone...you can go ahead and do them all. :)

Bottles of ice water were in coolers all along the challenge routes. They were cold, refreshing and very welcome (whether you were climbing or watching)!

For the adults there are four color-coded challenge courses. Things like the trapeze swings to walk on were there...

and of course the multiple ziplines.

It really did get more and more difficult as you went.

I could have done the first course with ease, I think. But when you got to one point, this point you see in the above and below pictures, you would have lost me. There's Aunt B. coming off of the platform swinging on a big rope ball...

into a net!! She was like Spider Woman on steroids! When she started out I was thinking where's the platform to land?????  Then I figured it out, hahahaha. She had to climb that rope all harnessed up and get back to another platform to finish that route. And she did, like a champ!

It was getting hot as the day wore on, and we were all getting tired. When we got to the red section, we decided that instead of climbing the rock wall to progress, we'd call it a day...almost. There was still one thing left to do.

The Giant Zip Line. 

See her sitting up there so tiny and far away?
She's about to end the day with the biggest zipline I have ever seen!

At the very end of the course, you climb a lot of stairs to get to the top, and then you take your zip. What a great way to cool down after a such a strenuous workout! It is the longest zipline I have ever seen, and it does go very fast. My son tried to race her by running on the walking path, of course he was exhausted by the time he got to the end, where she had been with me, patiently waiting for him to catch up. ;)

It was definitely a day to remember and we had such an awesome, fun time!!

There are picnic tables under shelter, and alone in the grass for those wishing to host parties or events. There is also a snack/drink bar on the covered patio and they have outside, air-conditioned rest rooms. The staff are as kind and helpful as can be, and they really know what they're doing too.

The next time you're in the fun zone (that's what we call Orlando because there's so much to do there!) be sure to swing by Tree Trek Adventure Park (pun not intended ;) ). You'll be oh so glad you did!! THIS is how summer memories are made. :)

Learn more by visiting the website. You can follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram too.

Now that's a #Solution! Wonder Wheeler Deluxe Beach Cart from One Step Ahead

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Holds a large cooler, beach chairs, an umbrella
& more. All-terrain wheels glide over the sand.

To finish off my One Step Ahead beach series, I saved the biggie for last, the Wonder Wheeler Deluxe Beach Cart. This handy little contraption is exactly what the doctor ordered if you carry a lot of things with you to the beach.

La Nouba Cirque du Soleil at Disney Springs is One Amazing Show! Children's Ticket Sale through Sept 3!

La Nouba Cirque du Soleil Children's tickets (ages 3-9) are just $24 for performances taking place
Tuesday - Saturday, now through September 3, 2016. Disney Springs (Florida)

Last weekend for my birthday, we headed up to Orlando to do some ziplining and then to take in a show. Because it was a special day, it couldn't be just any show! We went to one of the best shows around, La Nouba Cirque Du Soleil at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney). Parking was free (what??) and the show was ah-mahh-zing!

The building looks like a tent!

Walking up to the building, we saw this big building that was made to look like a tent. All of us started to get excited then. We walked upstairs to awesome seats right in the middle of the room. Truly the whole show was right in front of us, and we could see everything. With a show like La Nouba, there is a lot going on, so you want to be front and center.

Flyers at the hotel we kept for our scrapbooks.

I've seen two Cirque du Soleil shows before, and I enjoyed them both very much. This one though, was my absolute favorite!

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil 

As soon as we got inside the action started with these two clowns (literally), who were up in the aisles doing an interactive skit with the audience. Everyone in our party was laughing hysterically before the show even began, AND we were glad we weren't the bald man that kept being a target for these two, lol. Pablo & Pablo (that's the clowns) were interwoven all throughout the main show too. In fact, one of the funniest parts of the show (unanimously agreed on by all who were in our group) was done by this cute duo.

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

La Nouba was more than just comedy though. It was so much more than a few good laughs. The captivating acrobatics that seemed impossible, the romantic 'hot guy' (this fella was ripped and when the credits rolled I think the thundering applause was for more than just his amazing Aerial Bamboo performance) and more.

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

"Hot Guy's" work (that wasn't his name, I gave that name to him here) was amazing though, along with everyone else who did the act with him, and it truly transported you to another time.

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

My youngest loved the trick bikes. These were fun and of course, inspired my little one to come home and try to learn new tricks of his own. My son's at that age where he's been trying to learn bike tricks for awhile, so when the bicycles came out, he was mesmerized.

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil 

The B-Boys breakdancing kept his attention too. You couldn't have swayed his gaze even with ice cream (that just means he wasn't looking away ;) ).

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

The music for the show was live. You could see the singer and the musicians in the boxes on the side. It took me awhile to realize this though...her voice was so incredible that I just thought it was a recording!!  I'm telling you, this young lady could sing!

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

Everything about the show was just incredible. We loved every aspect of it, and truly it was a show you could see several times and still not take everything in.

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

Everyone had a favorite act, though we all thought every single thing was beyond an A+ performance. It was hard for me to choose which act I really enjoyed most, because like I said, everyone was astounding, but if I had to choose, I'd say the trampolines at the end. They made it look absolutely effortless and I found myself wishing that part of the show wouldn't end.

I know I'm leaving out a good amount of what we loved, and who did what, but I don't want to be the cause of any spoiler alerts for this one. If you like live shows, this is one you must go see!

After the show we headed to the gift shop.

That in itself was an event. Everything was so colorful and cheerful, and definitely unique. There were framed works of art, masks (or is it masques when you're using this context?) and recorded live shows on the flat screens. 

There were all kinds of goodies to try on too, including these cool hats.

Here you see my son trying on a combination of two masks and a hat. Shopping for souvenirs was a great way to end the night.

 It was a wonderful show and an absolutely perfect way to celebrate another birthday. :)

I simply cannot recommend this show high enough. With summer vacation now in full swing, be sure to take in the La Nouba Cirque du Soleil if you are going to be in the Orlando area. It's a wonderful performance for people of all ages!

Photo Source: La Nouba Cirque du Soleil

SUMMER SALE!

There is a sale going on all through the summer: Children's tickets (ages 3-9) are just $24 for performances taking place Tuesday - Saturday, now through September 3, 2016.

Visit the website to learn more. Follow along on Facebook and/or Twitter.