AtlantaAreaMommies

#MrsFieldsMoments Slow Down And Enjoy A Cookie With Someone You Love! #USO #cookies #family

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie Block) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 08:34:00 +0000

Share your story Here and download your coupon

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands ("Mrs. Fields") and Interbake Foods LLC ("Interbake Foods," the company responsible for the manufacture and sale of Mrs. Fields branded pre-packaged cookies sold at retailers throughout North America) today kicked off "Mrs. Fields Moments," a national campaign inspiring busy cookie lovers to slow down and enjoy a cookie moment with loved ones.

At a time when obligations leave precious little time for the ones that matter most, Mrs. Fields is encouraging a nationwide movement to dedicate Sunday night to cookie moments with family and friends. Mrs. Fields wants every cookie lover to embrace and share their #mrsfieldsmoments – from milk-and-cookies to bedtime treats – and has provided fun and useful tools for doing so at www.mrsfieldsmoments.com.

Mrs. Fields is a Proud Supporter of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), and "Mrs. Fields Moments" builds on the Organization's "Every Moment Counts" campaign, which helps all families – military and otherwise – make the most of every moment together.

"When you buy Mrs. Fields cookies, you're not just buying a cookie: You're helping create moments that matter for troops enduring long deployments," said Kevin McDonough, President of Interbake Foods. "By buying a box of Mrs. Fields cookies, you help give a cookie moment for you and for them. It's a touch of home to those who need it most."

Visit MrsFieldsMoments.com for "Snacktivity" ideas, Conversation Starters, more information about the Mrs. Fields–USO partnership, or to find a grocery store with Mrs. Fields Cookies (look for the USO banner on the box!).

About Mrs. Fields Famous Brands The Company is a well-established franchiser in the premium snack food industry, featuring Mrs. Fields® and TCBY® as its core brands. Through its franchisees' retail stores; it is one of the largest retailers of freshly baked, on-premises specialty cookies and brownies in the world and the largest retailer of soft-serve frozen yogurt with live active cultures. Its franchise systems operate through a network of more than 950 franchised and licensed locations throughout the United States and in 23 foreign countries. In addition, it operates an internet and catalog gifting business, a branded retail business and has entered into licensing arrangements that leverage awareness of its core brands among its retail customer base. The Company is currently relocating their headquarters from Salt Lake City, Utah to Broomfield, Colorado.

About the USO The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

About Interbake Foods Headquartered in Richmond, VA Interbake Foods LLC is a baked goods manufacturer with over 110 years of business experience. Interbake Foods is the North American cookie and cracker Division of Weston Foods. This includes Interbake Foods in the USA and Colonial Cookies Limited in Canada. Weston Foods' mission is to be recognized by its customers as providing the best bakery solutions in North America and Interbake is privileged to serve the marketplace with our award-winning products and services. Interbake Foods consists of three distinct business segments: Retail Private Brands, Contract Manufacturing and Girl Scout cookies through our ABC Bakers Division.

We would like to encourage you to spend a little extra time this Sunday with your family, here is a list of great "Snacktivities" to enjoy with the kids, from mix and watch movie night.....to a family costume contest, these ideas are so much fun. Turn off that TV and put down those devices for a little quality time. Enter to win the trip of a lifetime for your family in the #MrsFieldsMoments contest HERE , just upload a fun photo of your cookie moment and you will be entered to win a trip to Washington DC.

Share this with your fellow bloggers and friends!

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations #crafts #kids

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:17:00 +0000

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations

Rheney Williams-Guest Blogger

For moms who grew up in the '80s like I did, you'll probably remember those spinning art toys that let you create splashes and spiral smears of paint. You know – there was a spinning platform with paper exposed underneath, you dropped dots of paint into the middle and the spinning motion and centrifugal force pulled the paint out to the edges of the circle and you were left with these crazy, tie-died-looking paintings?

Although the toys have changed over the years, a kid's (and kids at heart!) basic desire to see swirls of paint and crazy combinations of colors hasn't. And an old-school product is making new spiral innovations possible: Shaving cream! All you need are a few basic supplies and you and your kids can have hours of creative and colorful fun with a beautiful piece of artwork to show for it at the end of the day.

Gather the materials for your shaving cream paint projects. You'll need:

Foam Shaving Cream (not the gel)
Paints in an assortment of colors
Heavy card stock or construction paper
Spatula or ruler
Skewer or little fingers!
Large cookie sheet or use smaller individual trays, one for each child

Tip: To make clean-up a breeze (and avoid having to buy a disposable tray), line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil first. Then all you have to do is remove the foil and you're done!

1. Spray a few lines of shaving cream onto the sheet and use the spatula or ruler to spread out the shaving cream flat and in a square or rectangle about the size of the paper.

2. Add a few random dots of paint or food coloring around the shaving cream palette.

Tip: If you have leftover paint samples from the last time you painted a room, this is a great way to use those and ensure whatever masterpiece your kids come up with coordinates with the space!

3. Use the skewer to make swirls with the paint in free-flowing circles or waves and if you have little kids, just let them go nuts with their fingers.

4. Place the paper into the shaving cream with the right-side facing down so that when you pull the paper off, the paint is on the correct side.

5. Gently push the paper into the shaving cream so that all surfaces touch and allow it to sit for about 10 seconds before carefully peeling the paper off of the shaving cream.

6. Place the paper on a flat surface (in my case, I had another foil-lined sheet pan at the ready) and carefully scrape all of the shaving cream off of the paper to reveal the magical marbling below!

7. Set the paper aside to dry thoroughly and if the edges start to curl, place a glass or other heavy object on the corners to keep them down during drying.

From here, take some time to admire your work and see what imaginative images your kids can find! Can you spot the hidden smiley face that appeared in my swirls? In addition to your classic refrigerator pin-up, here are some other creative uses for your pint-sized Picasso's masterpiece:

Make DIY bookmarks to give as Christmas gifts to the readers you love
Use the brown paper bags from the grocery store in your shaving cream paint project and have unique book covers for school next year
Frame it so you always have a custom piece of art in your office or work space
A DIY puzzle: Cut it into a bunch of different pieces that your kids can put back together and learn about how shapes and patterns relate to each other

What other cool things can you and your kids come up with for shaving cream paint creations?

Rheney Williams is a prolific crafter with a background in theatre arts. Besides writing about projects for Home Depot, Rheney is currently putting her DIY expertise to work by remodeling her first home and experimenting with colors and textures in her home decor.

Amazon.com Widgets

Are you a Business Owner? Now Sponsorship is easier (and cheaper) than ever!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 00:49:00 +0000

Every day, moms across the country are logging into their chapter of The Mommies Network, thanks in part to the support that we get from our sponsors... and our moms are returning the favor by finding out more about those businesses that support their chapter.

That could be you! Sponsorship is a really inexpensive option to marketing, and this week, it's even more affordable.

Now until July 23rd, we are offering 50% all Forum Sponsorship spots with a graphic and text. For as little as $10-$125, your business can be in front of our members for a whole year!!!!

And, we try to make it really easy for you.

Simply Click Here and select the 50% Forum Sponsorship Option. From there, select your chapter and how many spots you want and fill out all of the other information and your discount is instantly applied. Or, you can look around to see if one of our other options works better for you!

After submitting your sponsorship, you'll be taken to a secure PayPal page, and with that complete, we will have your sponsorship up and running within 24 hours!!

An entire year of presentation to our members for as little as $10.... how can you NOT afford to!

Click Here to order your sponsorship today.

Happy 4th Of July From Our House To Yours #celebrate #freedom

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:10:00 +0000

Our Mommies Network Chapter's wishes you a fabulous holiday weekend full of family fun, fireworks, BBQ's, fun in the sun (unless you live on the East Coast with the hurricane now) and making lots of memories.

Try not to forget the true reason for our celebration and all those who are serving today to keep our country free. Bring up the conversation with your kids about Independence Day and our country's history, teach them just why we are the land of the free.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
~ The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

America

by Samuel Francis Smith
My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our father's God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.

One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation evermore!
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Have a Blessed day with your family and friends! Be Safe

WANNA CHANGE YOUR USERNAME? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 29 May 2014 17:02:00 +0000

We are in the last 48 hours of the Mommies Network May is for Mothers, and we are upping the perks for you to donate!!!

If you make a $25 donation before 11:59pm on May 31st, you can change your username by simply forwarding your donation receipt to heather@themommiesnetwork.org!

Yeah- it's really that easy!!!

Visit http://themommiesnetwork.causevox.com to make your donation right now!!!

Are you part of the 99%?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 08 May 2014 15:19:00 +0000

How would you feel if I told you that less than 1% of the people around you cared about what you need?

Far too often, we feel the impact of standing alone and just wish that someone else would stand there with us, knowing that the journey would not be so hard if we just had a few extra people to help us along the way. This is apathy, and it's a big problem. I bet this is something you have experienced in your life. However, when the shoe is on the other foot and something out there in the world needs us, we tend to pass it right by.

The Mommies Network has over 20,000 members... moms who come to us for help and support and community. 20,000 moms just like you. Last year, less than 350 of those members donated to The Mommies Network during our May is for Mothers campaign. Look around you- do you think that only 350 of our members need support and community and the other 19,650 don't? And which one of those are you?

When we look at our chapters, that is not what we see. We see moms logging in day after day, sometimes 20 or 30 times a day. What we see is that almost all 20,000 of those members do need us and do use us, but that less than 1% of our membership helping burden the cost of the other 99% of us. Less than 1% of us are committed to what you need.

Forget the money, because it's not about the money. It's about apathy. The indifference of saying 'I don't need to do anything because someone else will take care of it and I'll still get what I need'. Do any of us really want to be that person?

Are you satisfied knowing that select few people are more invested in your support than you are?

This week, the conversation we are having on the forums is asking our members to make a commitment. We are asking one simple question:

"What will you do to make your community better?"

It doesn't have to be money! There are dozens of ways you can help... little things like signing up for Amazon Smiles and giving 0.5% of your purchases back to The Mommies Network, or asking a friend to join so that our community of support gets bigger, going to an event that one of our volunteers worked hard to provide to you, or even just not passing by a post without saying something.

Or you can give a few bucks and know for the next year that you were not a part of the 99% being cared for by 1%, if for not other reason than to know that a community cannot sustain itself like that and you know you use and need that community.

Give today so you can receive tomorrow.

Get Support. Give Support. The Mommies Network.

I Don't Like Mothers Day

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:44:00 +0000

Let me tell you why.

I don't want to sound ungrateful- I really don't! But, I could do without the store bought card. Flowers are always nice, but they will wilt ( and guess who is going to have to throw them out and wash out the gunky water from the vase?)

Honestly, one day a year, a $5 card and overpriced flowers do not make this job any easier. I'd rather get something I know that I need. Something that actually makes motherhood a little easier. Something that is personal. Something I use the whole year!

This year, I am asking the people I love to give me a community of friends and people who understand me. This year, I'm just asking the people who love me to skip the card and the flowers and make a donation to The Mommies Network instead.

The Mommies Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which means that it can't continue to bring FREE support to moms without help.

It's super easy and takes just a second! Just click on the image you would prefer below and you can post it right to your Facebook Wall. Tag the people you know will be sending you a card and ask for this instead! Best of all, you actually are saving time (and money) of those people you love, because this takes just a minute. We will even be send out a personalized E-Card to you on Mothers Day to let you know that person has made a donation in your honor.

Give up the Mommy Myth that you can't ask for what you need, and tell the people that love you to skip the card... you'd prefer a circle of friends this Mothers Day!

Click here to Share this image on your Facebook Wall

Tales from our Supermoms

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Sat, 03 May 2014 15:41:00 +0000

Over the past two days, we asked for our moms to share their Mommy Myths, and the response has been overwhelming! Here are a just a few*...

" I had to learn it's okay to ask for help... My mom was very sick several years ago and was in and out of the hospital.... between taking care of my mom, going back and forth to the hospital... trying to keep some sort of normalcy for my family.... Dinner, homework, etc, I almost lost it. I felt like the world was on my shoulders and I was a moment away from losing it.

Thankfully several friends from this site would just send little notes of encouragement, offers to help with the kids, etc. I wouldn't have made it without them. I tear up just typing this because I will never be able to repay them for what they did during that time...."

"I'm not one who's afraid to lay it on the line.... For some reason however, it took me longer than usual to talk about (some) issues. I finally opened up last week and boy am I glad I did! It was like a weight was lifted. I don't want to talk about it on FB .... but I knew here I'd be safe. I got a ton of support and a wealth of information I would've had no clue about otherwise. I feel a lot better about my situation and I feel like I'm able to move forward not only more educated but also supported which means the world."

"When I started back at work after having my first daughter, I really depended on the MOTC forum for major support. I remember the feeling of missing the baby were so strong I felt like someone was ripping my heart strings out! I cried my first day back. The first few weeks were the hardest, and I went to the forum often for encouragement, understanding, advice, tips on how to balance working and being a new mom. It was so fantastic to get connected with other moms who knew exactly what I was feeling."

"I was talking to my MIL last night on the phone, and she asked me how I was coping... I said "Well, I am managing to feed the kids and keep them fairly clean, so we're doing okay." and she said "Well, I see you post smiling, happy pictures on FB and just think you are doing fine,....

Which is exactly why BM helps me. I don't post this stuff on FB because I don't want the whole world to know, but I can come here and talk, vent, ask for advice etc. I know that people here, other moms going through similar things will understand and give me support.

That's really such an amazing thing TMN provides, for their members to get and give support, for FREE! "

This is what just a few of our moms are saying when they are telling us why they need their chapter. We are not social media! We are a place where moms find support when the rest of the world expects them to just deal with what life throws at them. But we cannot do it alone.. just like these moms cannot do it alone.

We give this to our members for free because we don't believe that moms should have to pay to get this kind of support... but that doesn't mean that that it's cost free for us to provide it. We have moms who can't donate... and we understand that. We also have moms who already give their time to our organization, and we do not want to ask them to give more... they make your support possible! If you can give, give for yourself and another mom. Your donation means that these moms and tens of thousands of moms just like them can come here tomorrow and get the support they need!


Click here to donate now!

* Some of the details have been changed to protect the identity of our members and have been used with the permission of those members Our mission: To provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Lessons from a Stressed-Out Mommy!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 01 May 2014 04:04:00 +0000

I've had it. The smile has disappeared from my face and I am in a twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt and the words echo through my brain like a mantra I know too well.

I can't do it all....

Those aren't the words of the Mommy I show the rest of the world. To the rest of the world, I am a rock. A pillar. A foundation. But inside, I am crumbling. The dozens of masks I put on... complete parent to my children, loving partner to my spouse, absolute provider to my family, dedicated employee to my job, willing volunteer to the schools and clubs, kind and thoughtful neighbor, generous and loving daughter, giving and supportive friend... I'm exhausted and I'm sick of constantly sacrificing myself. I have to be these things- all of these things- and I don't know which one to let go of ( or even if I can let go of) without feeling like I've disappointed everyone. And in my mind, I spin.

...But I have to do it all.

This is where I have been. Tied up in knots. Caught in a race with myself. Unable to feel any satisfaction because everything I did, even if it was good, was never good enough. And the path out of my Stressed-Out Mommy Syndrome was simple. I just wanted someone else who understood it all.

There is a relief that comes with having someone who tells you that you are not alone. The reason is that within struggle lies a feeling of solitude..and not the good kind of solitude I get when the kids are in bed and I can have a moment of peace. The bad solitude... the lonely solitude. People, by nature, long for connection, especially in times of struggle. And during those times, the best connection is made by simply acknowledging that my struggle is hard. And that I am not alone in thinking that.

What lessons have I learned? Three simple things:

- Admit the struggle. Every time you think the world is depending on you, stop telling yourself that you can't show that to the rest of the world. Stop thinking that you don't deserve support, because you do. We all do.

- Don't underestimate the power of connection. Connecting with other people is key, and finding a place where you can let down the masks, and what you get back is that you are not alone; it's vital to overcoming struggle that you not feel like you are walking the path by yourself.

- You only get what you are willing to give. When we connect, we cannot simply expect to take and never give. Connection is about exchange.... others being there when we need them, and showing up when others need us. With this, we create our own safe space. Our own community of people we can turn to.

This is what we do at The Mommies Network. When we started, we didn't do it to get the latest slow-cooker recipe or to debate about the whether we return shopping carts or not. We did it because we recognized that connections matter, and that women ( and especially mothers!) find it difficult to connect in a meaningful way unless we have a place to be honest about our struggles. And nobody can understand the struggle of a mother like another mother. When I talk about the twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt, that is a place that almost every other mother recognizes. When I say I can't do it all but I have to do it all, millions of other mothers know this feeling... because they feel it too.

We Get It

We've Been There

This month, The Mommies Network is launching in annual May is for Mothers campaign focused on one idea... the letting go of the Mommy Myth. The Mommy Myth is simply that we don't need help and support. What we do is give you a safe space to let go of your Mommy Myths. A place to come with your struggles and have a community of moms who understand why it's so hard who can rally around you and say the thing you need to hear... that you are not alone.

We are YOUR Community

We are asking for a donation- whatever you can afford- so that we can continue to keep "the lights on and the doors open", for you and for every other moms in our communities. If you have received support, or watched other moms benefit from simply having a place where they can be honest about their struggles, please make even a small donation. We want to keep doing this year after year, but we can't do it without your help.

Click on a mom YOU identify with to help us keep doing what we love.... supporting you!

Now Thru 3/31- earn $5 for The Mommies Network by purchasing from Amazon!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:44:00 +0000

The Mommies Network

Now through 3/31, make an Amazon purchase through The Mommies Network Amazon Smiles page, and Amazon will donate $5 to the organization we love so dearly ( in addition to the 0.5% we receive regularly). If you are making a purchase from Amazon ( including Prime purchases), please use this link to earn TMN $5!!!

HOW EASY IS THAT!!!!

Click Banner to sign up now to start earning money by shopping at Amazon for The Mommies Network!

Check out our latest deals from our TMN Affiliates!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 03:06:00 +0000

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Check out our Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

We chat online in a private forum — discussing everything from the best pediatricians to the worst temper tantrums and all that lies between — and meet up regularly at member-driven events around town. Whether it's a late-night talks about a crying baby (there are 4 a.m. posts to prove it) or a Moms' Night Out, AtlantaAreaMommies provides what our members need, when and how they need it.

Click here to go directly to our calendar, and stay up-to-date on all our events scheduled for this week.

Events!!

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Events with the Mommies

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Invitation to free new website that helps moms better manage their kids’ group activities

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Hello Mommies,

I am a fellow member of the Mommies Network and the creator of a new website called

Podanize, which helps moms, dads and group leaders better organize their kids'

group activities (e.g. soccer, scouts, school classes, etc.)

Kids today are overscheduled, and keeping up is a challenge:

• What day did I volunteer at school to go read with the kids?

• Who is driving to the scout meeting?

• When am I signed up to bring the team's snacks?

These are just a few of the many little details that busy parents have to keep straight.

Try as we might, something inevitably falls through the cracks. We all need a little help

to stay organized.

I’d like to invite you to join our brand new website. To join, just go to http://

www.podanize.com and click Get Started to create a "Pod" for any real-world group, or

even just your family for now. You can create a Pod if you’re a group leader or a group

member. It’s quick, easy and free. Then "get your Pod going" by adding discussions

or events, and inviting others to join your Pod. Podanize can also be accessed via a

mobile browser, and our mobile app will be available in late 2013.

Our mission at Podanize is to help ease the stress that comes with keeping our

kids active and involved. To this end, we welcome any feedback you have. Podanize

is for you and is built to get better over time by adding your suggestions – I’d love

to hear from you. Also, if you know of other moms (or dads) who might benefit from

Podanize, please share this with them.

Podanize is ideal for all extra-curricular activities: soccer, little league, playgroups, scout

troops, swim teams, theater groups, school classes, PTA, etc. The list is endless and

includes anything with a need for ongoing communication and coordination.

Again, just go to http://www.podanize.com to get started.

Best,

Nikki Sacks

Co-Founder of Podanize

nikki@podanize.com

Check our Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Senior Citizen Day

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 12:00:00 +0000

National Senior Citizens Day recognizes contributions senior citizens make in communities across the United States. It is annually observed on August 21. Call or visit your Grandparents or visit a senior center in your neighborhood to honor them.

Some people celebrate Senior Citizens Day on August 14 as it was the day past US president Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935. However, in 1988 Ronald Reagan, who was the US president at the time, declared August 21 to be National Senior Citizens Day.
This observance was established in honor of senior citizens in the US who made positive contributions in their communities. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health, and economic issues that affect senior citizens. (reference)

Around Atlanta today are a couple fun events, not necessarily senior citizen events but fun either way:

Food Truck Wednesdays at Underground Atlanta - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday WindDown - 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Review of Cruise with Kids

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:42:00 +0000

I have cruised before and love it. But I had many questions before cruising with my infant; is there high chairs, can bring stroller, whole milk available etc. I thought I'd post my review of the cruise on Carnival Breeze with my family in case others have similar questions before cruising with their kids.

Spring break 2013 we went on the Carnival Breeze to the Caribbean. We went myself, my husband, daughter 9 yrs and son 11 months. This is our 3rd Carnival cruise. We had 5 other family members in our group. We flew into Miami the day before the ship set sail. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel, it was very nice and a perfect location. We were trying to find a place for dinner that was child friendly and found the Bayside Marketplace, right down the street. In the Intercontinental has some restaurants but they didn't look very family friendly. They were very fancy and the people would probably not deal well with our screaming baby throwing food all over the floor. The Bayside Marketplace was great, perfect family friendly area, seemed pretty safe and had nice restaurants and a lot of fun shopping, music, petting zoo for kids and more. We loved the view from our room in the Intercontinental.

Sunday we took a shuttle to the port to get checked in on the ship. With priority boarding it was great, no line, we walked right on. The ship was awesome looking, I feel it looks a lot more classic, more pretty than the old Liberty or Fascination that we were on before. Those had a more Vegas style look to me, more tacky. Our room was awesome, roomy with couch (extra single bed), coffee table and vanity, big balcony and nice big bath with jet tub and two sinks. Very nice and clean.
Of first day at sea was nice and we were at the WaterWorks water park enjoying the water slides and cooling off when announcements over the ship were saying that there was a medical emergency and we would need to stop at Nassau to get this person to a hospital. As the day went on the itinerary had changed and we would be reversing our stops and going to Nassau first and staying there for 4-5 hours in the late afternoon/evening. All the excursions would be changed since we were originally going to Nassau our last stop and for the entire day. We had an excursion at Atlantis planned with tour of the resort and aquarium, lunch then the rest of the day at their water park. There was no rush to get to the shore excursion desk knowing it was be mobbed with negative angry people. We went later and found out our Atlantis excursion was cancelled and money was totally refunded. We were ok with that, little disappointed but we plan to go back another time and will do it all then. We ended up hanging around the port of Nassau and going to Senior Frogs. Senior Frogs is quite a party bar type place but it was family friendly in the restaurant side with view of the port and the ships. Very fun and keeps the kids entertained.

The next day was stopping at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Since we weren't going to Atlantis we definitely wanted to do something in Jamaica. We decided on going to Paradise Beach, we always book our excursions through Carnival and good thing because in the instance of us not making it to Nassau like we were supposed to, our money was refunded. If we would have booked through another tour company I'm not sure we would have gotten our money back. Plus also we look for safe excursions especially since we have the kids with us. Paradise Beach was a 10 min or less ride by shuttle and we were staring directly at our ship. It worked out to be a fun excursion, there was drinks including rum punch and beer for adults and lunch included. The beach was nice, their was a DJ playing music and organized volleyball games, drinking contests and dancing. We didn't go to the shopping area but it was in walking distance. Great beach and easy for the kids to get into the water and keep in shallow areas and fun to be looking right at your ship across the way.
Jamaica is not my favorite stop. Of all the islands I've been too the Jamaican people beg for tips for everything (or nothing), far more than anywhere else and for any job they do. It highly annoys me. When they are begging me for tips it makes me not want to give them any. grrrrr.

We chose to have anytime dining, for us with my son being so young it worked best. One thing that I really liked about the Sapphire dining room we were in on the Breeze is that we were not all packed into one long rectangular table. We did sit at a round table many nights when we had 6 in our group. Instead of those long cafeteria tables where 12 people all sit smashed in elbow to elbow. This dining room has table of 2, 4 or 6 and they are placed close to each other but not push together as one, it gives so much more room to move and eat. It worked out so great for us especially with a baby in a high chair. I wonder if all dining rooms are setup this way on the Breeze or only because we were in anytime dining.

One reason we wanted to go on the Breeze was to go on the ropes course. There is a Sports complex on the 12 level, top of the ship. It was too windy and the SkyCourse was closed often the first couple days. We played mini golf which had a fun 9 hole course. There was also ping pong, pool tables, foosball, running track, basketball/soccer and exercise machines up on that Sportsquare. I love this ship so many things to do for the whole family.

Since we chose anytime dining we didn't sit at the same table with the same wait staff each night. But all the staff; waiters, hostesses etc were so great with my baby, getting us anything we needed and paying so much attention to him. It's nice when we are eating at another table and our waiter/hostesses from the previous nights remember us by name and come over to say hi. We did notice that there isn't whole milk which is what my son drinks in those individual boxes at the buffet breakfasts or room service, but it seemed if we asked for whole and gave them a bottle to fill they could. Skim and 2% were available in those little milk cartons. We always have a container of Cherrios or Kix for my son to snack on throughout the day and there was Cherrios available. We were looking for the regular yellow box of Cherrios and not honey nut, I don't like to feed him the extra sugar. The regular yellow boxes were at each breakfast and easy to get. While we were eating in the buffets having the stroller was easiest. There was high chairs but we usually ate out by the pool on lido deck and stroller worked perfectly. At dinner in the dining rooms we used their high chairs and they had the tray so no need for the disposable place mats I bought. They were clean and brought right over to use immediately after getting seated. I liked those high chairs.
My daughter loved the 9-11 year old Camp Carnival programs. They did scavenger hunts, making towel animals, paper airplane contests, video games, dance parties etc. She went to a few of the night owl parties they had at night after dinner. The one party was till 3am, she loved it.
Our last stop and one of my favorites is Grand Turk. The cruise center at this port is awesome, so much to do, gorgeous beach, shops and restaurants you really don't have to leave the cruise center to enjoy an entire day. The water is the prettiest color, bluish green and my photos just don't do it justice. We enjoyed the day at the beach, we rented a tent/shade that went over 2 lounge chairs, it was well worth the twenty bucks. You could also rent snorkel gear, floaties and more.

Our last day at sea we enjoyed the Waterworks waterpark and ropes course. My daughter went around the ropes course 7-8 times. I walked the exercise track with the stroller, it was so nice up there on the top level of the ship. The Waterworks was great for all age kids. My daughter loved the water slides and I did too. There are 2 big ones, one starts slow, and then circles around like a drain at the end. The other one is longer and faster and very fun. The lines for the slides weren't too long. There are 2 little slides for littler kids. There is a ton of spouts squirting water everywhere and a large bucket that fill and then drops all the water in the area.
I think many people think cruising with kids is just out of the question unless you have a ton of money to go on Disney. We feel that is not so, Carnival is a VERY family friendly cruise line that is affordable. Try it! We have booked our next family cruise next spring.

This post was originally posted on another site as review of Carnival Breeze with kids. Thanks Kristen from AtlantaAreaMommies for sharing.

Fun Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:30:00 +0000

We made a last minute decision to go to Chattanooga and meet up with friends. What a great road trip from Atlanta. These are the most fun trips when you don't really have plans and just go. There was six adults and six kids, all 9 years or under. We decided to go to the Tennessee Aquarium. I've always heard it was a great aquarium and the best in the area before Georgia Aquarium was built. It was rated top US aquarium by TripAdvisor and top 10 from FamilyFun. The riverfront area was very cute, there were artist tents selling all kinds of jewelry, home décor and more. There was a small mock river that the kids were all splashing around and playing in. It was nice and kept them cool, great for all ages. There were two buildings for the aquarium which was confusing at first. The staff was very nice and helpful and suggested we go to the Ocean Journey building since that one closed first. The kids enjoyed petting the stingrays and fish, it was fun to see the small shark in that tank too.

The butterfly room was very pretty thought very hot and tropical. We all loved the penguins, it was fun to stand up to the glass and watch them swim under water. They were diving in and jetting back and forth, even the babies loved watching them. We spent well over two hours in this building. There was a nice area outside with tables to sit and relax. We all took a quick break for snacks and drinks and kids playing in the mock river then headed to River Journey. This building we spent another two hours and kind of were rushing through parts because the kids were getting restless, they needed lunch and naps. It was great to be able to stroller through all the levels as it spiraled down. We liked the turtles, alligators and catfish. There are a lot of big tanks to sit and look in and enjoy the critters in there. Its a great accessible place for wheel chairs or strollers.

It was getting late for us, my 14 month old needed to get going. We were so hungry since we had not eaten since the morning. We all stopped for a quick dinner and then the rest of the group went to the Incline Railway. The pizza place across the street was surprisingly good. Mr. T's Pizza at the base of steepest railway in the world. We'd like to go back to Chattanooga for sure. Our friends raved about the Incline Railway saying it was amazing. They said there were scary steep parts of the ride but the view at the top was so beautiful. It's the highest overlook point on Lookout Mountain. The brochure says on a clear day you can see over 100 miles to the Great Smoky Mountains.

We'll make it back to visit Chattanooga and hopefully spend more time. In our plans would be the Incline Railway, Rock city and Ruby Falls.

Events with the Mommies

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Summer slide?

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +0000

How are you working with your school aged child to prevent a huge summer slide? or aren't you? Many say the summer is for just relaxing, vacations and kids just having fun. I feel there is a balance between the two.

Easy ways to work in some learning with summer fun:

If planning a summer party, work with your kids to create a budget, let them plan the theme and create the favors and decorations.
Work on a puzzle during rainy days, puzzles help children with spatial awareness.
Give your children a video camera or your tablet to record, then work with them to edit and create fun home movies.
Play restaurant and make up menus and the costs per dish, play with fake money.
On a chalk board or white board create a math problem or vocab question of the day.

Here are some great printables to help this summer, SchoolFamily.com.

Happy Parents Day

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 16:51:00 +0000

HAPPY PARENTS DAY!

Parents Day is the 4th Sunday in July each year. In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed into law the resolution unanimously adopted by the U. S. Congress establishing Parents Day. It has been established for recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children. This fun day is to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It celebrates the special bonds of love between parental figures and their children.

Check out the National Parents' Day Coalition and nominate who you think are parents of the year, http://www.parentsday.com.

Family

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:14:00 +0000

What can we humans learn from this gorilla family? How sweet, natural and happy looking are they?

Photo Credit- Cindy Tuijtelaars

Zoo Atlanta is home to the only mother-reared twins in captivity! Mothers will hold their babies all the time for about the first four months of life. Infants start trying solid foods around 6 months of age but nurse until they are 3 or 4 years old.

Zoo Atlanta helps conserve gorillas in the wild through serving as home to the international headquarters of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGFI). The mission of DFGFI is to protect gorillas and their habitats in Africa. By providing free space and technical support to DFGFI, Zoo Atlanta enables the organization to allot more funds toward conserving gorillas in the wild.

Zoo Atlanta also has a very successful cell phone recycling program, with all proceeds benefiting DFGFI.

Check out www.AtlantaAreaMommies.com, we encourage and support each other with Attachment Parenting, Natural Living, Homeschooling and so much more...

Thank you sponsors!

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 12:30:00 +0000

AtlantaAreaMommies loves our sponsors and we wanted to thank you again. They help keep us going, and help keep you connected to our forums where you go for advice, support, a laugh and looking for an event.

Emory University Child Study Center

How do children think and learn? How do they remember? At the Emory University Child Study Center, we study language, learning, memory, and how typical children ...understand space and numbers. Families with babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school-age kids participate in child development research studies on the Emory campus in our child-friendly center. Studies are occasional, scheduled at parents’ convenience and are set up like games or activities. Curious parents and engaging children are what we are all about!

http://psychology.emory.edu/childstudycenter/

Comfortaire Direct

http://www.comfortaire.com/

Jumblzar

Buy and sell with other Moms on the best Mommy marketplace.

https://www.jumblzar.com

Events with the Mommies

noreply@blogger.com (AtlantaAreaMommies) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000