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 And just like that, another Ellicottville Summer Music Festival has come and gone! I swear this summer is flying by way too fast! Before you know it, the fabulous sunny weather will be replaced by, do I even want to say the word?! That fluffy cold white stuff that falls from the sky. Ughhh!!!!!! No bueno!!! As usual, our besties over at the Ellicottville Travel buero invited us out to enjoy all the music festivities taking place during the Summer Music Festival. Since I already have several reviews up on the blog from years past, I thought I would do something different this year. Give you my tips on how to get the most of if your Ellicottville Summer Music Festival experience!  1. Bring Your Own Booze! ~ That’s right, while you can buy your drinks on site if you don’t feel like lugging a cooler, you can bring your own drinks! I’m all about saving that coin when possible, so I always bring my own drinks!!! Not every often you can attend a music event and bring your own anything! Take advantage and save that $$$$$! 2. Dress In Layers ~ Trust me! You will be sweating all day. It is summer after all! But once that sun goes down, you will be freezing. You have to remember that this music festival takes place on a ski slope. It gets chilly at night regardless of the time of year. I suggest wearing a tank top or tee shirt and having a hoodie on hand when you start to get chilly!  3. Wear Old Shoes ~ I don’t know if it’s just our luck or what, but the last few years we have attended the Ellicottville Summer Music Festival, there are patches of mud! Save your fabulous kicks for another event and toss on a pair of sneakers/sandals/boots you won’t mind getting a tad bit dirty. 4. Do Not Purchase Kids Tickets ~ The first year we attended we had no clue about this, kids under 12 are FREE! That’s right, do not purchase your kiddos a separate ticket. I requested wayyyy too many tickets out first year because I assumed kids needed their own ticket! They can get in for free with a paid adult! Score!!!  5. Come Hungry ~ Ellicottville is Home to so many fabulous dining establishments. Ellicottville Brewing Company & Dina’s are two of my favs! I suggest checking out one of the local restaurants before heading to the show! 6. Show Early For “Good Seats” ~ If you didn’t purchase VIP, I would suggest showing up at least 30 minutes before showtime. Those lawn spots in front of the stage fill up pretty fast! Everyone wants that prime viewing location! Let’s Chat!Do you enjoy music festivals & concerts in the park?!
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The world’s biggest bounce house is coming to Buffalo. AGAIN!!!! We had a blast last year at The Big Bounce America Buffalo and can’t wait to bounce the afternoon away this year as well!!!!
Big Bounce America will be in the Queen City on weekends from August 9-18. Plenty of dates so there is bound to be one that you can clear your calendar and head up and bounce!
The Big Bounce America is described as a “magical, candy-colored inflatable castle with 10,000 square feet of fun, games and laughter that can be enjoyed by all ages.”
In the middle of all the fun, there is a stage with a DJ/MC hosting games and competitions and playing the latest tunes!!! WooHoo!!!
Here are the times you can go check it out at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor (225 Fuhrmann Boulevard):
• Friday – Aug. 9, 16 – 1 to 5 p.m. • Saturday – Aug. 10, 17 – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. • Sunday – Aug. 11, 18 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Not in Buffalo? No biggie since Big Bounce America tour will roll into the following cities in 2019, so get ready for an event not to be missed:
Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tucson, Washington D.C.
To spend the afternoon at The Big Bounce America attraction is $10-$25. Now that’s a killer deal if you ask me!!!
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Maid of the Mist USA ~ Tips!7/30/2019  Anyone else a huge fan of “staycations”?!? With my hubby’s crazy work schedule, it can be tough to go off on a spontaneous vacation as a whole family. Thankfully, living in WNY, we are so close to so many fabulous travel destinations. My favorite? Niagara Falls! A few weeks ago we decided to head up to the falls and take my daughter on the Maid of the Mist. She had never been and we felt like she was finally old enough where she would remember her first experience. When I spammed my Insta with Niagara Falls pics, I was shocked when I was flooded with questions. I swear everyone wanted details on the Maid of the Mist!! So today I’m doing exactly that! Giving you all the tips you can possibly need to make your trip on the Maid of the Mist as epic as possible!  1. Wear Sunglasses ~ yes, you are provided with a free poncho, but if you’re a girly girl like me and caked your makeup on for those insta-worthy pics, pack a pair of shades and toss them on when the boat takes off. I didn’t even need to touch my makeup up afterwards thanks to my handy dandy poncho and my shades! 2. Bring Your Camera ~ This was the one question I was asked over and over. Is it safe to bring your fancy camera? The answer is yes! While you do get wet, you do not get soaked. Mist is the key word here! Just tuck that camera under your poncho when you’re not using it and it will be fine!  3. Go On A Weekday ~ We headed up to the falls on a bright, sunny 85 degree summer day. It was a Monday and there were zero lines!!! I was pretty excited about this because in the past, I had waited quite a while to board. Apparently Monday’s are the day to head to the falls! 4. Wait To Put Poncho On ~ when you first board the boat, you will see everyone put their ponchos on in a hurry. I was one of those people. It gets really hot with that poncho on! I would wait until the boat is about to take off and then put it on. You will literally be standing around for about 5-10 minutes while people board feeling like you’re in a sauna on a hot summer day with that thing on!! Just wait!!!!  5. Top and Bottom Decks ~ There is a huge difference! If you’re like me and just wanting to get misted with water to cool off from all that walking you have been doing, head to the bottom deck. I didn’t really get that wet at all and like I mentioned above, didn’t have to fix my makeup! If you’re wanting to get wet, the top deck is for you. Depending on where you stand on the top deck, you can apparently get as soaked as you want. You won’t be finding me there that’s for sure lol. 6. Observation Deck ~ If you want the best insta pics you can possibly get on the American side of the falls, head to the observation deck! You will have the best views of the falls. I would suggest even doing this before you do the excursion if you want family pics in front of the falls. That way you don’t have to worry about anyone being wet afterwards. Everyone will be dry and photo ready! Let’s Chat!Have you been on the Maid of the Mist?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Epic Road Trip Money Saving Hacks7/20/2019  This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of WW Cheese, manufactured by Schreiber Foods. The opinions and text are all mine. WooHoo for summer!!! Y’all know what that means right?!?! It's road trip season! All across the country, families are piling into their vehicles and hitting the open road. Nothing makes our lil’ family happier than making memories while traveling the globe. The question on everyone’s mind is always how do we do it? Our friends know we aren’t exactly living in Bellaire, so how are normal, everyday folks always out exploring? Lucky for you, I have several EPIC Road Trip Money Saving Hacks to share! You will be shocked to find out how much loot you could save by applying these hacks to your next family adventure! If you stretch your dollar now, there may be more road trips to take later!  1. Snacks The best way to save that cash when you’re hitting the road with your fam is to bring your own snacks. By planning and preparing snacks for your epic road trip, could not only save a ton of loot, but have access to better-for-you options, instead of going for typical fast food. Heading to your local Wegmans and loading up your cooler with yummy snacks such as WW Light String Cheese is such a simple task AND it will save you a ton of money, allowing for more epic road tripping adventures in the future. WW Light String Cheese Everybody has a different wellness journey, but we all love a good snack!!!! I just love heading to Wegmans and stocking up on WW Light String Cheese before our epic road trips. Not only is WW Light String Cheese an enjoyable option for someone like me focusing on weight loss and eating better, the rest of my family can chow down too since WW Light String Cheese is beyond delicious!!! With 50 calories, 1 SmartPoints® value per stick, 6g of protein and a mild, creamy taste, it’s a delicious and convenient snack for your journey! Just head to the dairy/cheese aisle at your local Wegmans and toss a package into your cart! I’m sure you and your family will love these yummy cheese snacks, so we’ll help you share them with everybody! While you’re at it, visit the Wegmans store locator to find one nearest you or visit the WW website here! It’s got great tips, tricks, recipes and more!  2. Gas I know a ton of people avoid good-ole road trips because of gas prices! Depending on the size of your family, when you compare road trip to the price of flights, it’s the most frugal way to travel! Use these pointers and watch how much you save!!! • Fuel prices are usually cheaper on weekdays. Try to avoid filling your tank on holidays or weekends. • Do you have a card that offers rebates or travel rewards? I suggest you use that card to purchase your fuel. Some cards offer up to a 5% rebate. Purchase the gas with the card and pay off your card ASAP with the cash you had set aside for your epic road trip! • Depending on weather conditions, you can also use cruise control to automate the amount of fuel your car uses! • Make sure your tires are properly inflated before leaving for your epic road trip. Poorly inflated tires are less efficient. 3. Accommodations Driving long distances can get pretty tiring. Then add antsy kids? Omg!!! Stopping for the night when driving from point A to point B is a must! When mapping out your epic road trip, check out the towns your navigation claims are your preferred driving distance for one day. Then compare hotel prices. Once you figure out the cheapesttown to stay in for the night, there are travel websites that allow you to pay an even lower rate for a hotel. These sites will tell you what star grade the hotels is, but not the name of the hotels themselves. If you’re boujee like me when it comes to accommodations, look for those 3 to 5-star hotels. You best believe I’m taking the gamble and letting the site pick my stay for the night for a super low rate! They tell me straight-up what star rating the hotel is!! No surprises there!!! It’s a win-win!  4. Find Free Things to Do
One of the best parts of an epic road trip is the luxury of stopping at all the must-see sites on your journey!!!! No matter where your epic road trip may take you, there should be a ton of free (or inexpensive!) activities. Simply search “free things to do in (city)” and your phone browser and you should find enough to get you started. Some free activities that we love seeking out are hikes, farmers markets, free live music, picnics, beaches, historical landmarks and exploring museums, just to name a few! The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Cirque Du Soleil Crystal7/15/2019  A little fact about me. All things musical & artsy put a huge smile on my face!!!! I can’t sing. I won’t even attempt unless I’m drunk at karaoke night. If you ever witness such a travesty, please take me home. Your girl can’t hang and that only means I’ve been hanging too long and my chaperone must be tipsy too lol..... however, I do love playing instruments (jam sessions!!) and I love to dance. I played flute and trumpet in school and I cheered and danced as well. So you best believe I’ve been obsessed with Cirque Du Soleil since I was I first discovered it in high school. At one point it was my goal in life to see them all. A girl can dream ;-) When we spotted a Facebook ad stating Cirque Du Soleil Crystal was headed to Erie, you best believe we scooped up tickets. My daughter had a blast at Mystre in Las Vegas over Spring Break & Crystal looked just as entertaining and very family friendly!!! We just had to see it!!!  Cirque Du Soleil CrystalCrystal is not just an ice show, it’s the very first experience on ice from Cirque du Soleil. Watch world-class ice skaters and acrobats claim their new frozen playground with speed and fluidity as they challenge the laws of gravity with never-before-seen acrobatics. Discover a new kind of performance as Cirque du Soleil meets the ice to defy all expectations. Directed by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, our misfit heroine, takes you on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world to become what she was always destined to be: confident, curious, and creative. CRYSTAL invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colorful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound ofCirque du Soleil.  OpinionCirque Du Soleil Crystal is definitely one fabulous show!! So much talent goes into the production of Cirque shows, that they are all enjoyable and very entertaining regardless of the plots!!!! However..... Since I’m brutally honest with you guys all the time, I thought I would be real. While this show is amazing to watch, I would not head to this particular show if music and theater aren’t your thing OR you are childless. I personally would love it if my hubby would take me to a show like this for date night, but I’m going to assume, most people would find this particular show a tad bit too family friendly. I don’t think this show was ment to be geared to the kiddos, but the whole show just gave me Stars on Ice and Disney on Ice vibes the whole time. Lots of talent. Cool plot! Just a tad bit on the kiddie side. If you have kids, definitely take them. It will be all they talk about for weeks. If you love theater, go!!! You will enjoy the talent behind the production. If you are looking for some entertainment and you have watched several Vegas shows hoping for Vegas epicness in your hometown, I would wait for the next show to hit town! This show is nothing like those productions. Let’s ChatHave you been to a Cirque Du Soleil show?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 Literally my new favorite spot on Chautauqua Lake! Harbor Hotel Carousel Bar! It’s so pretty!!! I just can’t get over how Insta-worthy this spot is. Definitely not the norm here in WNY that’s for sure. The best part?! Chautauqua Harbor Hotel Carousel Bar is just a few minutes away from my house. If I ever get bit by the wanderlust bug and I don’t have a fabulous trip planned for awhile, all I need to do is drive down the road and pretend I’m on vacation all I want!!!  Carousel BarA lakeside Carousel Bar, paying tribute to the grand carousels of yesteryear. The Carousel Bar promises a one-of-kind experience whether for lunch, dinner or sipping cocktails while taking in the spectacular sunsets for which Chautauqua Lake has become famous.  HoursCarousel Bar Summer Hours (July 1-Labor Day weekend): Mon-Thur.: 4pm-Close Fri-Sun: 11am-Close  ThoughtsI thought this would be a fabulous spot to really give you the reasons why I love this spot so much! 1. Champagne Lakeside ~ I didn’t have to purchase a bottle and I wasn’t handed a mini-bottle to pour myself. Legit glasses by the glass! 2. Atmosphere ~ Just look at that view?!? I can just stare off into the lake for hours. I almost feel bad for those drinking with me. I daze off into those water views. 3. Food ~ You can dine at Harbor Hotel without paying for the 5 star dining experience inside. Enjoy pizzas(very flatbread like), wings, and other yummy smaller plates for half the cost of inside! 4. Fire Pits ~ When it starts to get dark, take your beverage fireside!!! 5. Insta-Worthy Photo Opts ~ Nothing better than snapping those pics and having your backdrop look inst-worthy! 6. Not Too Crowded ~ we have yet to experience large crowds, which is super nice. We were just there Friday and while yes, there are people everywhere, you can still snag a seat with ease! 7. Dock Your Boat ~ Have a boat?! Lucky you and we should totally be besties. I am lacking a boat bestie lol.... anyway, you can dock your boat for free and walk right in for a drink. While this is legit my new summer spot, I will add that drink prices are high. This is a resort after all, so expect to pay resort prices for things like a beer. This is always the one drawback when I bring newbies. Totally worth the extra cost for the views alone if you ask me! Can’t wait for another chance to sip a cocktail at the Carousel Bar.  Let’s Chat!Do you have any local spots in your neck of the woods that make you feel like you’re on vacation?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 Something ridiculously neat and totally unplanned happened when we were in Las Vegas! Haylie and I were headed to Mandalay Bay for a little aquarium fun. We grabbed my phone to book a Lyft since we were feeling pretty lazy. We did too much walking the day before. It was Lyfts everywhere we went for the second half of our trip since our legs were beat! Las Vegas Strip 1 Storms Family 0 While clicking away on the app, I was given an option! I could book a self driving car!!! Of course the adventurous part of me squealed with excitement and was like hell yeah!!! It sounded so futuristic. Like the stuff you see in movies!!! After a 10 minute wait for our Self Driving car to arrive, it was time to find out exactly what all of this Self Driving Lyft stuff was about since it was totally new to me!  Lyft Self-driving Ride ServiceI apparently have been living under a rock because Lyft's self-driving cars powered by Aptiv have apparently been picking up passengers around Las Vegas for the past year! The program launched in May 2018 and over 55,000 people have been adventurous enough to book a ride. If you’re a world traveler, this is probably old news, but I figured it’s a share-worthy story since I can’t be the only globetrotter to never hear of this. The cars are self driving, but arrive with two engineers on board in the front two seats. Lyft is on stage 4 out of 5 when it comes to self-driving testing, so engineers on board are legally required to make sure everything goes smoothly. These two individuals basically take notes about the ride and will even spill all the details on these rides. Basically they are the cars babysitters just Incase anything goes wrong. One of the engineers even pointed out to me that their self-driving cars average a 4.97 star rating and 92 percent of riders gave feedback that they felt safe during the ride. I will have to agree that I too felt very safe. The cars are very aware of their surroundings that’s for sure.  OpinionThe entire self/driving car experience took about five minutes since we were only headed to Mandalay Bay which is pretty close to where we started, MGM Grand. Honestly, this makes for a really neat story to tell folks, but the ride felt uneventful. Not going to lie, I had hoped for a car that chatted with us, on its own, and drove us, on its own, the presence of two people in the front with screens took a bit of fun from the ride. For the thrill seeker, that's let down. For the self-driving industry, it's a giant win.
It was still neat to take part in what I expect to be the future of the Taxi industry. We aren’t too far away from self driving cars! So glad I had the chance to experience it at the beginning. Can’t wait to see where Lyft is in a year when we head back to Vegas. You bet I will be checking the app constantly for a Self-driving ride for an updated review. Maybe by then we will be close to stage 5 and zero engineers on board! How neat would that be?!?! The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 The Adventuredome Theme Park!!!! Our last Las Vegas trip was a family focused trip! My daughters second time in Vegas, but the first time she actually left the hotel/foodcourt/pool. Our prior trip was all about hubby and I, so we had babysitting set up through the resort and they took great care of my daughter poolside while hubby and I did all the non-family activities Vegas had to offer. This time around? If something was labeled kid-friendly, you bet we were there!!!! So you best believe we made the trip down the strip to Circus Circus and spent the afternoon at Adventuredome!  AdventuredomeLocated at the Circus Circus Resort, the Adventure Dome is a five acre indoor Adventure/Amusement Park for adults and children. There are rides and attractions including, Canyon Blaster, the world's only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster. Other rides include bumper cars, midway games, video arcade, rock climbing, FX movies, and clown shows.  10 TipsAll Day Passes ~ When you first arrive and feel the park isn’t as HUGE as you imagined, don’t let that stop you from purchasing an all day pass! The park is wayyy bigger than you realize and purchasing the Adventuredome all day pass will end up saving your a ton compared to purchasing each ride individually. Roller skating is even included in the all day pass! Worth every penny if you’re with kids. Trust me. Eat Before You Arrive ~ The food at Circus Circus and Adventuredome really isn’t anything to brag about. Vegas food prices are expensive and paying high prices for just ok food?! No one is happy when that happens!! Eat before you arrive!!! You will thank me later.  Souvenir Shopping ~ Honestly, the shops inside the Circus Circus before you enter the Adventuredome have the cheapest prices I spotted for t-shirts, shot glasses, coffee mugs. You know, all the cheesy merchandise you want to being home for your friends and family!! With deals like two t-shirts for $20, I definitely brought home something for everyone!!! Even picked up a killer Las Vegas tye/dye for myself! Plan To Spend 2-3 Hours ~ If you purchase an all day pass and plan on doing everything, plan on this being a 2-3 expedition. Adventuredome isn’t usually that crowded, but if you happen to be visiting on a holiday/weekend, you might want to add a little bit more time to your schedule since some of the coaster lines will have a small wait.  Bring Socks ~ If you purchase an all day pass, roller skating is included. To skate, you will need to be wearing a pair of socks! Come prepared if skating is your thing. Height Requirements For Coasters ~ This is an obvious thing to keep in mind, but it’s good to know a head of time so you can prepare any kids in your party that may be under the height requirement. To ride the coasters you must be 48 inches tall. Being inside a casino, you best believe they are pretty strict about height for all the rides. Even the baby rides my daughter was being measured and she’s 7! I’m assuming it must be a policy of theirs to measure everyone for insurance reasons.  Free Clown Shows! ~ Who doesn't love clowns? FREE shows on the main stage take place all day long. Perfect activity when you want to take a break from all the action. Performances daily at noon, 1, 3 and 4 p.m. Additional shows Friday and Saturday at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. Snacks ~ I suggest to eat before you head to Adventuredome, but if the kiddos do get hungry or thirsty, there are snack shops throughout the park! You can purchase things like 20oz sodas, bags of Doritos, chips and candy! Nothing was too crazy priced either!  Nevada Resident Discount ~ you can save $2 by flashing your Nevada ID when you purchase your tickets! It’s not a huge savings, but hey! It’s at least something! Mini Golf, Rock Climbing, 4D Movies ~ Someone in your Party not into rides?! There are a few non-ride options for that person to enjoy. A few of these activities like the golf do cost extra, but at least that person won’t be bored!  Our Thoughts?If you are hitting up Vegas with kids under 10, Adventuredome is a must! I’m honestly not a fan of the actual Circus Circus hotel since it’s a tad bit run down, but I do give the Adventuredome part of the resort two thumbs up! My 7 year old had so much fun at Adventuredome. We were trying to kill time between checking out of our hotel and heading to the airport and Adventuredome was the perfect activity to do such a thing! With all day asses we rode everything and then went on a few of our favorites one more time before heading to our Lyft. I usually have at least one thing to complain about, but besides the Circus Circus being run down, I have zero complaints about the actual Adventuredome! Everything was priced right considering you are in Vegas and we had a blast! If I find myself in Vegas with my daughter again, we will be back! Let’s Chat!Have you been to Adventuredome?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 Another Mother’s Day has officially come and gone!!! For the last several years we have attended the Mother’s Day Brunch at the Chautauqua Athenaeum Hotel. However, last year, I thought it would be fun to try something new. Total fail since we missed what had become a tradition of ours! Our lunch at a Buffalo steakhouse was delicious, but it just wasn’t the over the top fabulousness that we have grown to love at the Athenaeum Hotel!!! This year, even if it was 40 degrees so we had to bundle up and not wear the most colorful, spring looks in our closets and it may have been raining as well. Boo!! I made it a point to document our experience so those of you googling away next year know that the Mother’s Day Brunch at the Athenaeum is a not miss event!!!  LocationThe Athenaeum Hotel is located inside the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. Since it is the Chautauqua off season, you do not need to purchase a day pass to enter the grounds. Just drive right in and head to the Athenaeum. Once at the hotel, enter and look for the Heirloom Dining Room. Since it is off season, when Mother’s Day happens to fall on a sunny day, the grounds of Chautauqua do make for fabulous photo opportunities!! We always take advantage since it’s one of the few times you can enter the grounds without paying for a day pass! So make sure your phone is fully charged for those photos!!!!  PriceI’m not even going to deny it! This Mother’s Day Brunch is definitely on the pricy side. $45.95 for Adults and $14.95 for children. You do get what you pay for though. If the mom in your life loves to feel pampered and loves all thing elegant and fancy, this is the brunch for you. Worth every penny if mom is one who loves to dress up and see hubby in that tie!  The DrinksThe good news is, mom does get a complementary mimosa! You get to choose from Apple, Grapefruit & Traditional Orange. The Athenaeum Hotel does have a full bar, so if a Bloody Mary is more your thing or even a mixed drink or beer, they have it!!! Cheers to mom!!!  The FoodThis is what everyone always asks me in the comments when I spam my personal Facebook page with my annual Mother’s Day photos! Is the food good?! What do they serve? The food is definitely phenomenal. We wouldn’t be repeat guests if the food wasn’t out of this world. I’m a proclaimed wannabe chef, so good food is my thing & the Athenaeum delivers every year!!!! As for what is served? They offer carving stations featuring prime rib, Turkey & ham! I’m not usually a turkey fan, but their turkey really is out of this world. You get to choose from a variety of sides like asparagus, salads, mashed potatoes, stuffing! The Athenaeum also has breakfast stations for those of you wanting to make your own omelets and enjoy a waffles, bacon and sausage. A cheese display, soups and desserts along with breads are also available. So much food it’s sort of overwhelming. Always a good thing when that happens!!  OpinionY’all already know I love the Athenaeum Hotel Mother’s Day Brunch!!! I recommend it to anyone that loves to feel like a princess or enjoys history, old fashioned type of things. The Athenaeum is a historic hotel that has hosted everyone from celebrities to presidents!!! Just being in this hotel gives me this feeling of wow!!!!So many amazing people have walked the hallways of this fabulous establishment and I get to sit and eat brunch there!!!! The food is also out of this world. If 4-5 star restaurants are your thing, this brunch is for you. My my only complaint is the fact it’s not exactly kid friendly food wise. My daughter is a picky eater and she ends up eating toast and cupcakes every year. Since it is Mother’s Day, you would think maybe some chicken fingers, pizza slices or maybe hot dogs would be offered, but they aren’t. Thankfully, the child price is only $14.95, so it’s not a total waste. My daughter probably eats that in cupcakes and drinks that in milk alone lol.  Let’s Chat!! How Did You Spend Mother’s Day?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 I was originally sorta bummed when we landed in Las Vegas. I had my eyes set on a Mandalay Bay vacation due to their epic wave pool, but there was a huge convention going on. This convention was so large they managed to sell out the whole freaking place! I’m too boujee for the kid capital of Las Vegas, Circus Circus. So sorry if that’s your favorite, I just love high end amenities!!!! So after an internet search and asking good ole Facebook for recommendations, I was told Mandalay Bay was over rated and the best place to stay is actually MGM Grand. So I figured if the internet says it’s true, let’s book it as my second choice. From the second we arrived, I was like damn! This really is the place for families. We will definitely be back if we have Haylie with on us on another Vegas adventure. Here are my 13 Reasons Why MGM Is The Best Hotel For Families!  6.5 Acers Of Pool!Welcome to Paradise!!!!! This pool may actually be my favorite resort pool in the USA, not counting indoor water parks. 6.5 acres of fun featuring four refreshing swimming pools, three whirlpools, cascading waterfalls and top-notch amenities. Grabbing a tube and float down the famous Lazy River was literally my daughters favorite activity! She just couldn’t get enough!!!! Stretch out on a comfy daybed & enjoy a variety of food and drink options with waitress service so you don’t have to cart your kids around. For those families looking to dial it up a notch, the MGM Grand has spacious cabanas that include flat screen televisions, personalized bottle and food service, and amazing views that overlook the pools!!! Definitely something I would love to take advantage of once I hit the jackpot since those cabanas are definitely not cheap. Lazy RiverBest way to keep those kiddo occupied!!!!! Seriously, this lazy river will have us coming back over and over again. I know several other casinos have Lazy Rivers, but they honestly do not compare to the MGM Grand. This is a legit lazy river with waterfalls and all. Not some dinky 1 minute ride in a circle thing you find in other family hotspots like Daytona & Myrtle Beach. It’s been a week since our Vegas adventure & my daughter still can’t stop talking about the waterfalls and lazy river!!!  Easy To Find Lyft/Uber AreaThis is actually huge!!! If you haven’t been to Vegas lately, then you wouldn’t know that most casinos and hotels hide the Uber’s/Lyft pickup locations. Cabs are the preferred way to travel. But if you’re someone like me who is all about using credit cards, their beloved PayPal or even Uber/Lyft promotional codes/coupons, you are all about Uber/Lyft!!! Thankfully, MGM won’t make you hunt to find these pickup spots. Signs leading you all the way to the hotel parking lot where you and your family can sit on one of the many benching while you wait for your ride to arrive. When you have little ones in tow, this is such a sigh of relief. Location To AirportThis might sound really minor, but the fact that the MGM is literally the first major casino when leaving the airport, awesome!!!!! Great for sleepy kids when you arrive and even better for when its time to leave and your kids are driving you bonkers since you have been killing time wandering all day!! You are literally 5 minutes away.  Decent Sized Room For CHEAP!This was actually another huge selling point. We reserved the second cheapest room the MGM Grand has to offer. The cheapest rooms are two people max rooms in the west wing. We already knew that with kids, you want to be close to the pool and restaurants. Who wants to do extra walking with little ones in tow? Our room was the next level up and located in the Grand Tower. Huge bathroom with plenty of space for everyone in the family. Nice bathtub for little ones who love their bath time. And an ice machine located in the hall so you have plenty of ice. Each mini bar was also loaded with drinks. Perfect for when you run out of something and your kid needs that juice NOW. Only downside, no refrigerator. You really do need to use that ice machine to keep your kids drinks cold since you will be charged if you remove drinks from the mini bar.  Frozen Drinks For MomThis really isn’t a kiddo perk, but all you mamas that love your frozen drinks, there are plenty of them throughout the MGM Grand. Buy a souvenir cup and refill it for a discounted price your whole trip!!! Frozé was my personal drink of choice and boy was it yummy!!! Awesome Pool Security!This is one of those things I thought I would never be grateful for, but here I am!! Tiesto was preforming at the night club located inside the MGM Grand one evening. I literally made jokes the night before about all the hung over Tiesto folks wandering down to the pool the next day. Not exactly a site you want super little ones to see. We woke up the next day and dogs galore. Pretty much every security guard had a dog walking with them. You would have never known the MGM was Party central the night before thanks to the awesome security making sure the pool stayed a family-friendly place!  Food Court For Pickey Eaters!Pizza, tacos, hot dogs, Johnny Rockets!!!! The MGM Grand is literally every parent of a picky eaters paradise!!! My biggest worry on every trip is what will my daughter eat?! She’s so picky that she won’t even eat a chicken nugget!!! Thanks to the awesome food court, my daughter had all the pizza & hot dogs she could ever eat while mama got to indulge in other yumminess elsewhere guilt free! Monorail AccessI honestly never even thought about using the Monorail pre-kiddo days! I just wandered the strip and enjoyed every last second of it. Not exactly easy when you have little legs joining you on your adventure. After day one of walking, you will be so thankful that the monorail stops at the MGM Grand!! Where does the monorail stop?!? Even better!!! You can take a ride to Paris, Caesar’s Palace, Linq, Bally’s, Flamingo, Harras & Weatgate!!!  24Hr Starbucks That Sells Milk!My daughter is a milk addict! Having a 24hr Starbucks was a lifesaver since they had milk for sale!!!!! Perfect for when we arrived at 10pm straight from the airport and needed drinks ASAP once we arrived for bedtime. Gave us a chance to have that milk before wandering to a convenient store the next day. They Sell Bags Of Chips At The Pool!Need snacks?!?! Bags of chips at the pool!!!! Most pools in Vegas do not allow outside food and drink, so this was legit AWESOME!!!!! No need to spend crazy money on a second lunch because you can just buy a bag of chips to hold your kiddo over until dinner time.  Rainforest Cafe!Every kids favorite restaurant!!!! As most of you know, we are huge fans of the Rainforest Cafe located at Disney Springs, so to be able to dine at one at our very own hotel?!? Score!!!! You will have to make a trek to get there, but boy is it worth it!!!! M&M’s WorldWhat kid doesn’t love M&M’s?!? In just 2 minutes, guests can create their very own one-of-a-kind M&M'S® with the Personal Printer, combining customized messages, a variety of images, and 16 different colors of M&M'S Brand Milk Chocolate Candies. There are 14 iconic Las Vegas images available for the Personalized Printer, including the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign!!! The best part?!? The location is right outside the MGM Grands doors!!!!  Let’s Chat!Have you stayed at the MGM Grand?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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THE FLAMINGO WILDLIFE HABITAT4/29/2019  And we are back!!!! Did y’all miss us last week?!?! Sorry to go totally dark over here on the blog, but sometimes it’s just nice to escape the internet and enjoy the things & people around us. I love taking these week long breaks every once in awhile because the second I get home, I’m so pumped to share all the awesomeness we experienced with y’all!!!! Nothing better than a writer actually wanting to overshare!!! Unfortunately, we did not hit the jackpot this Vegas trip, but we did see some cute Flamingos at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat located inside the Flamingo Casino. This was actually my very first time seeing these cuties, so I figured I would give you all the info on this specific habitat along with my thoughts and opinions.  WHAT ANIMALS ARE AT THE FLAMINGO HABITAT?The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is home to a beautiful flock of Chilean flamingos. You will also find swans, ducks, koi fish and turtles living at the Habitat. Two brown pelicans also call The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat their home. They joined the habitat from a pelican rescue in 2012. WHAT ARE THE FLAMINGO HABITAT HOURS?The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is open daily, dawn to dusk. WHERE IS THE FLAMINGO HABITAT LOCATED?The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is nestled on the Flamingo Las Vegas Casino’s lush 15-acre grounds, the habitat is filled with exotic birds, fish and turtles. WHAT DOES THE FLAMINGO WILDLIFE HABITAT COST?It’s Free!! That’s right FREE OF CHARGE!!!!  OPINIONHonestly, I thought the flamingos were totally cute!!! This whole Las Vegas trip was based around family travel and sharing ALL the family activities Sin City had to offer. The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat was a total hit with my 7 year old daughter. If you are in Las Vegas with kids, you MUST take them to see the Flamingos!!!! I promise it will be all they talk about!!! Plus, you can’t beat free! Vegas is an expensive city, so it was nice to not spend any money for a few minutes! The location was pretty stellar as well. We went to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat after riding the High Roller Ferris Wheel located at The LINQ since The Flamingo Casino was literally a few steps away. Totally convenient for anyone hanging out at The LINQ. Now, if you’re not traveling with kids, or if you would have to go out of your way to see these tall pink cuties, that would have to be up to you! I personally would not take a cab to The Flamingo Casino just to see the birds. You will spend about 10 minutes max at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. Not worth cab fare unless you link this excursion with something else close by! Now, if you’re wanting to plan a little drinky drink & some shopping at The LINQ next door, I would definitely check out the Flamingo Wild Life Habitat since it’s a few steps away. It makes for some cute insta pics that’s for sure!  Let’s Chat!Have you been to the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat inside the Flamingo Casino?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Niagara Falls USA With Kids TIPS!4/11/2019  Niagara Falls!!! One of the most beautiful places in the USA!!!! Hollywood may have you convinced that the American side of Niagara Falls is filled with cheesy heart shaped hot tubs, but it’s so much more than that!!!! Even someone like me that’s a hater of most things dealing with the outdoors, just can’t get enough of the beauty that is Niagara Falls!!!! I totally recommend Niagara Falls as a family destination! Definitely a sight your children need to see with their very own eyes. Since my daughter is always along for our crazy adventures, I thought I would share a few traveling with kids tips for visiting this fabulous New York destination!!  1. Dress In Layers New York weather can be so unpredictable!!! Even if the weather claims 80, I would still pack a hoodie! You never know how windy the falls may actually be AND nothing is worse than a cold kiddo crying to leave due to the weather. Plus, evenings can be pretty chilly in Western New York!!! Pack that hoodie! Better safe than sorry!!! 2. Prepare To Get Wet If you plan on doing any of the heart-pounding activities that offer up-close-and-personal encounters with the falls, you're going to get wet. I would again, pack accordingly. Maybe an extra set of clothes if you have kiddos who can’t stand being wet? Also, don’t wear anything fancy! Save those cute outfits for dinner and dress your kiddos in something you won’t mind getting wet!! 3. Sunscreen!! I am the queen of forgetting to pack sunscreen and having to shell out ridiculous amounts for it at gift shops! You will be outside all day! You will definitely need that sunscreen at some point. Paying double for something you already own is the absolute worst!!! Toss it in your bag now so you don’t forget!!  5. Save “Wet” Excursions For The End. I know Cave of The Winds and the Maid of the Mist are the must do activities EVERYONE is dying to do, however, saving them for the end will be the best decision you make. You WILL get wet, so do you really want to be snapping picks of wet kiddos all day?! Take all your cute photos first THEN head on over to those wet excursions!!! You have your Insta-worthy family pics, so who cares if you get soaked after that! 4. Purchase Discovery Pass To stretch your coin when in Niagara Falls, I would highly recommend purchasing the Doscovery Pass!!! The pass will cost $46 for adults, $35 for kids 6+ and free for 5 and under! While seeing the actual falls is free, the pass will give you access to 5 attractions and unlimited trolley use! That trolley comes in handy when you have a crew of tiny legs in tow! The attractions included in the Discovery Pass Discovery Center & Hiking Trails, Aquarium of Niagara, Maid of the Mist, Adventure Theater, and Cave of the Winds! 6. Check Out The Awesome Fireworks When planning your trip, I would try to plan around the fireworks schedule! All kids love fireworks!!! One incredible experience!! Total bragging rights to say you had the opportunity to watch fireworks over the falls!!! Definitely a memory your kids will treasure for a lifetime!!!  Let’s Chat!Have you had the chance to visit Niagara Falls?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 Thank you Sesame Place for hosting our trip. As usual, all opinions 100% my own. During our little weekend getaway to Sesame Place, located just outside of Philadelphia, we had the opportunity to dine with every little ones favorite Sesame Street Character, ELMO!!! Abby Cadabby, Burt & Ernie also would be gracing us with their presence, so we were pretty stoked!!!! We named our puppy Abby Cadabby after all, so it’s safe to say we love our Sesame Street in this house!!!!  Dine With Me!Dine With Elmo & Friends is located right inside the Sesame Place gates. You will need to purchase a theme park ticket to have this character dining experience. Since Sesame Place only does one seating for breakfast, you will want to arrive a little early. The line to be seated gets pretty long. PriceBefore I get into all the details of this character breakfast experience, I will tell you what most of you are thinking. What is the cost?! Honestly, this is the best part! If you’ve been to Orlando, you know thosw parks charge and arm & a leg to meet their characters, Sesame Place on the other hand got it right! $27 for adults, $11 for kids and kids 2 and under are FREE! You won’t break the bank giving your kids their dream breakfast which is pretty sweet if you ask me!  ExperienceOnce the hostess seats you, you will wait for your table number to be called to head to the buffet. While waiting and eating, all of the characters besides Elmo will make their rounds for photo opportunities. Elmo has his own little setup which you will have to wait in a short line to snap your photo. Also during the breakfast, the characters will have a dance party that your kiddos can participate in. Probably the most magical part of the whole experience. Total bragging rights saying you danced with Abby Cadabby & Elmo!! Photos!!!Photographers will amake rounds snapping photos using their fancy professional cameras. I thought this was awesome since not all of us have someone to snap that family photo. This way EVERYONE is included in the shot. You will get one photo for free, which is included in the cost of breakfast and you can purchase additional photos if you want them all!  The FoodThe food is exactly what you would expect. Basic breakfast foods like eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, cereal, etc.... nothing spectacular, but honestly the main focus of this breakfast is meeting your favorite Sesame Street characters. The food could have been cereal only and we still would have had the time of our lives chillen with Elmo!  Our OpinionHonestly, we loved everything about this character dining experience. The price was spot on, the breakfast lasted about an hour which is PERFECT!!! Just long enough to do everything and eat before hitting the park. Food was perfect for picky eaters too. My daughter hates pretty much everything and she still managed to find something to eat thanks to the cereal, yogurt and fruit offerings! Characters were super friendly and let you take as long as you needs to get that photo. Loved that we were not rushed at all. A huge plus!!!! Only thing I didn’t care for was the chairs. They weren’t exactly the most comfy things in the world, but the theme is a school cafeteria, so theme-wise they work! If if you’re heading to Sesame Place, I highly recommend Dine with Elmo & Friends! Your kids will talk about it forever!!!!  Let’s Chat!Have you been to Sesame Place?
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B Resort & Spa ~ Disney Springs2/27/2019  Hello everyone and happy Wednesday!!!! I may no longer be wandering the Disney Parks, but the second best thing one can do is write about them, right?! So on our latest trip to Orlando, my daughter and I scored an incredible deal at the B Resort & Spa at Disney Springs. An “Offical Walt Disney World Hotel” AND in the Deluxe Category for only $94 a night for a standard room. Booking our trip only two weeks in advance and having limited options when it came to on-site hotels, we decided to take it! I didn’t have $1,400 a night for the Four Seasons & I detest the All-Star Disney Resorts. My only options besides B Resort if I wanted Disney transportation. Say all you want about me, the All-Star resorts just aren’t bougie enough for me, plus I refuse to stay in one since that’s where all the large groups stay lol.... don’t do it to yourself if you value your sleep. Honestly, the fact that B Resort was one of the only properties left had me a tad bit concerned. I just kept telling myself nothing can be worse than staying at an All-Star with all the super loud high school groups. Then the day came. We showed up to B Resort and I was floored!!!!  B Resort & SpaI couldn’t believe it!!! The resort was actually GORGEOUS for the price!!! Bougie on a budget!!! My favorite types of places. The hotel was not only insta-worthy, but totally glam. The only reason I feel B Resort was one of the few properties left when it came time for me to book our trip is the fact no one has any idea what this place is!!!! We know all the Disney theme hotels. We know what the Hilton & Westin are at Disney Springs, but who has ever heard of B Resort? Not I and I lived in Orlando for years! So I’m taking it upon myself to spread the word!  The B Resort & Spa has a total modern, Miami vibe!! Super chic. Marble everywhere which made me feel super clean while roaming the premises. They even have an official Disney Store where you can buy not only merchandise, but theme park tickets so you can skip those ridiculously long lines at the theme parks. Hungry? They have a sit down restaurant and a mini grocery story with coffee, ice cream, room snacks, drinks, beer and wine! Just expect to pay an inflated price for those items ;-)  Valet & Bell ServiceThat’s right!!!! Don’t feel like parking your own car or carrying your own luggage? There is help for that! While I will admit, I’m not usually not THAT person, I did have assistance this time with my luggage. Traveling with my child alone & having two suitcases, groceries, personal carry on items etc, very handy and made me feel like I was staying at the Ritz! We didn’t drive, so I have zero clue how great the valet service really is, but it’s nice to know the service is there if you are too lazy to park your own car in the parking lot which is literally two steps away.  Spa!One of my favorite hotel amenities that I’m sad to report I did not take advantage of this trip! Spas are my favorite, so when hubby is with us, you best believe I’m taking full advantage. I am also obsessed with Aveda products. Mainly because that was the “fancy” brand when I was younger and I tend to live in the past when it comes to brands... so I was pretty stoked when I realized the spa was an Aveda Exclusive!!! I will definitely be taking full advantage our next trip!  Kids RoomTons of resorts have these, but this one was actually clean! My biggest pet peeve with any type of kids play areas is cleanliness. I’m not sure if it’s due to awesome hotel staff or kids not taking advantage of this fun spot, but it was as clean as a kids area could get! I also thought it was pretty sweet that the computers have gaming systems attached. Perfect for older kids who think they are too cool for a pool day with the fam.  The Pool!Pools are one of the most important things to me when it comes to hotels!!! While there isn’t a mini water park or anything fancy-smancy, the pool area was pretty glam! Total South Beach vibes with a pool bar and all!!!! Towels are also provided by the hotel! The pool got two thumbs up from me! Honestly, no splash pad or slides makes the pool a way more relaxing place! Plus kids have just as much fun swimming with or without the extras. I rather lounge in style with a yummy cocktail while my child swims than chase my kid around a splash pad at the pool any day lol...  TransportationB Resort & Spa does provide FREE Disney transportation! Honestly, you won’t even need the Disney Springs transportation since you are literally minutes away. It will take you longer to wait for the bus than it would to just walk! The transportation did however come in handy when visiting the parks! Easy to find and the bus shows up like clockwork. Always there when it says it will be. Only downside, it’s a shared bus with other Disney Resorts, so you will get the scenic route. It’s included with your room, so it is what it is! Take advantage! Even if you have a vehicle, use the free transportation to avoid paying ridiculous parking fees! Worth taking the scenic route to save $20+ if you ask me!  The RoomConsidering I freaking paid $94 a night, the room was gorgeous!! You can’t even get a room at our local Comfort Inn for these types of prices, so this room really was a steal. Very clean, beautiful marble bathroom. Central air and not that “fake” central air with the air unit sticking out of the wall. Mini refrigerator and even room service. I can also report that DoorDash will come right to your room if you want a mid night snack.  How Close To Disney SpringsI know, the question y’all have been waiting for. All those lights?!? That is Disney Springs! You can spot it all right from your hotel room! It is however a 5ish minute walk. You have to walk the length of the B Resort property and then the length of the Hilton next door before you reach the first Disney Springs entrance. A very easy walk that my daughter and I did several times a day. Not to shabby if you ask me!  Let’s Chat!Have you stayed at the B Resort & Spa?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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 Happy Monday y’all!!! This past weekend we had the opportunity to check out one of the most unique events I’ve attended in awhile!!! That speaks volumes since I’m the event queen and weasel myself an event to EVERYTHING! What event was that? Keep on reading to find out!!!  Fire & Ice CelebrationThe Fire & Ice Celebration which took place at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celeron, NY was definitely an event people in this area will be talking about for awhile. Chautauqua County is a “small town” area and nicer events aren’t the norm in these parts. You usually have to cruise on up to Buffalo or down to Erie to get that “city” feel! So when I spotted Chautauqua Harbor Hotel advertising an event that looked wayyyy fancy for this area, you bet I was intrigued and just had to go!!!!!  What was this event exactly? For the ticket price of $25 a person, you get to enter a “world of ice”. The whole back portion of the resort was transformed into an ice paradise! Ice sculptures, ice bars, ice furniture with a DJ spinning awesome tunes!!! They even crafted up their own cocktails served out of ice exclusive for this event!  I’m not usually a liquor drinker, but you best believe I had to try one of their signature martinis since they were poured out of an ice contraption! Included in your $25 admission was 1 cocktail ticket and a wine and beer sampling portion of the event.  After you guzzle down your delicious martini, it was cold, so if you weren’t chillen by a fire, you wanted to down that dink fast to warm yourself up, you had the chance to taste a variety of local beers, wines and even appetizers INSIDE!! If that wasn’t enough booze for y’all, they also offered a cash bar which was also located inside.  The evening ended with a fireworks display! A nice way to end the fabulous evening. If you missed out this year, don’t worry!!! This will be an annual event, so go follow the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel over on Facebook to stay up to date on their events through the year!!!  Let’s Chat!Have you been to the Chautauqua Lake Harbor Hotel?
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welcomeCourtneyLynne is former model turned mommy & wifey! When not blogging all things foodie, fashion, travel, mom life & straight up fabulousness to the masses, she can be found chasing her daughter around in 6in stilettos & laughing at her own jokes her glass of wine told her to tell. |
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8/3/2019
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