Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog

Win 4 Tickets to King Richard's Faire

2025-09-01T15:09:00.004-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS SOPH F FOR WINNING!

It is that time again, time to escape reality at King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA! I am giving away four tickets for my lucky subjects. We have been going for years and love it. The Faire runs weekends and Monday holidays through October 19th. The winning tickets are for your choice of date. Enter below!

More about the faire:

King Richard’s Faire has exciting rides, games in an 80-acre wooded site in Carver ,MA! There are great shows on eight stages, tigers and even fire eaters! You’ll be dazzled by acrobats, aerialists, and jugglers!

Plus there is great shopping and excellent food!

So many talented artisans from near and far. Lauren wearing this beautiful piece.

Check out lots of great acts throughout. I highly suggest checking out the schedule posted here.

I personally love the knights jousting on horseback.

Check their website for more information:
https://kingrichardsfaire.net/

The Faire is located at 5 Pine Street in Carver, Mass. 02330 Visit King Richard’s Faire on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheKingRichardsFaire

So don't get locked out of the best escape from reality! Win tickets now! Enter below!

Disclosure: I received a set of four tickets for giveaway and also a family pack of four tickets in exchange for review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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Win 4 Tickets to How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Boston

2024-11-20T21:41:00.004-05:00

I have wonderful news to kick off your holiday season. I am giving away 4 tickets to Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 7 pm at the the Boch Center Wang Theatre. Enter below to win!

Discover the magic of Dr. Seuss' classic holiday tale HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL as it comes to life on stage.

Featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Celebrate the holidays with the show The New York Times calls "100 times better than any bedtime story!"

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for my family and for giveaway for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received, and as always all of my opinions are my own.

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Win 4 Tickets to a Boston Whale Watch

2024-06-25T22:14:00.005-04:00

I am always on the lookout for fun activities for the whole family. I have an awesome one and as my follower you have a chance to win! I am giving away 4 tickets to New England Aquarium Whale Watch in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises. Read on to learn more and enter the giveaway.

Photo Credit BHCC

More about the Whale Watch:

The New England Aquarium Whale Watch in partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises (BHCC) will kick off another season of cruises beginning May 16, 2024, giving guests an up-close experience with whales and ocean life off the coast of Massachusetts. New England Aquarium naturalists serve as guides onboard the whale watch cruises as passengers see the wildlife in Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a feeding ground for many whale, dolphin, and bird species. Passengers have the opportunity to learn about these marine animals and their behaviors from the naturalists who set sail daily. "The start of whale watching season is our favorite time of year here at BHCC,” said Bob Lawler, BHCC’s General Manager and Regional Vice President. “Together with the New England Aquarium, we're thrilled to continue to provide the unique opportunity for Boston-area residents and visitors to see and learn about whales in their natural habitat. Each year, we welcome thousands of passengers aboard for an experience they'll never forget, and we look forward to another spectacular season ahead. Out of a shared goal to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, long-time partners BHCC and the Aquarium delayed the start of the New England Aquarium Whale Watch until the right whales had migrated north out of Cape Cod Bay.” “At the New England Aquarium, we aim to inspire everyone to form a deeper connection to the ocean and take action to protect it. Education is at the core of our mission, and these whale watches provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the wonders of our blue planet firsthand,” said New England Aquarium President and CEO Vikki N. Spruill.

Photo Credit BHCC

Departing from Boston’s Central Wharf, the whale watches run three to four hours on highspeed catamarans with outdoor viewing decks and indoor spaces with large windows. A full bar is available onboard along with light snacks for purchase. BHCC has also taken steps toward reducing single-use plastics onboard whale watch vessels, including the removal of plastic water bottles. Backed with 7 years of experience at BHCC and a degree in Marine Biology, Linnea Mayfield starts the 2024 season in her new role as Head Naturalist. "I'm super excited to get back out to Stellwagen Bank and see familiar flukes," she reports. "Each year, one of my favorite questions is how much do whales eat? My answer always gets wows because it's 1 million calories a day! That's the equivalent of a human eating 16 Oreos a minute, every minute, 24 hours a day!"

BHCC will be running multiple whale watch cruises a day. To see the schedule and learn more, visit the New England Aquarium Whale Watch on CityExperiences.com: New England Aquarium Whale Watch in Partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises

ENTER BELOW TO WIN!

You may pick any day or time except July 4th.

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Giveaway Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical Boston

2023-10-31T16:16:00.005-04:00

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is coming to Boston and I am giving away 4 tickets to one of my lucky readers. Read on to win tickets to the show on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 7:00PM ET at the Boch Center Shubert Theatre. Don't miss this show that will be here from November 24-26th.

What a great way to kick off the holiday season!

About Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us.

Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL.

ENTER BELOW TO WIN!

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for my family and for giveaway for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received, and as always all of my opinions are my own.

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Immersive Disney Animation Experience in Boston Until August 13

2023-04-19T19:59:00.005-04:00

If you know me, you know that I love all things Disney! We have been taking our kids to Walt Disney World yearly since they were little. When I heard there was an Immersive Disney Animation experience in Boston I knew we had to go. Lauren's 16th birthday was this past week so going to Disney Animation Immersive Experience was a great way to kick off the festivities.

Words can't describe how beautiful it is. We absolutely loved it!

The Immersive Disney Animation Experience has been extended until August 13th. Buy tickets here. If you don't live near Boston don't worry, check out the website and there may be one near you.

What I loved about it is that it is perfect for all ages. We saw little ones walking around mesmerized and the teens I was with were having a blast acting like kids.

So sweet!!

Really doesn't Disney bring out the kid in all of us?

It was so fun being in the center of all of your favorite Disney Animated Films.

It is so much fun being immersed in the Magic of Disney!

Teens have a blast taking pictures and videos.

Lion King, one of my favorites.

How it works is that you purchase a timed ticket.

We had the Premium Plus Ticket which included an Immersive Animation Print, Lighthouse Immersive Cushion to sit on, and an interactive wristband that lit up with the show.

You lineup after checking in and you are brought in to the Immersive room. The show then goes for an hour.

There is beautiful music to sing along or dance to as the screens all around you are changing.

There are some surprise bubbles at times too. Young and old enjoyed this.

A little video of the fun.

So gorgeous!

Bubbles!

Love this! Walt would be proud his stories are spread all over the globe.

It is at the Lighthouse ArtSpace at 130 Columbus Avenue right near the Theater District.

Get your Mickey ears and head over!

Buy tickets here.

Disclosure: I was provided with Premium Plus tickets to the Immersive Disney Animation Experience for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and as always all opinions are my own.

Win Tickets to Paddington Gets in a Jam at the Hanover Theatre

2023-02-16T15:48:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to give my readers another awesome giveaway. This time it is for 4 tickets to Paddington Gets in a Jam on March 10th at the Hanover Theatre. Who doesn't love an adorable bear who keeps marmalade sandwiches in his hat?

More about the show:

Watch Paddington, the famous, accident prone bear, as he takes to the stage in this fun filled comedy. Paddington is making his favorite marmalade jam with the help of the Brown’s housekeeper Mrs. Bird, but they run out of sugar, so Paddington heads next door to borrow some from Mr. Curry. The usually grumpy Mr. Curry is even more short tempered than ever as he prepares for a visit from his great aunt who is a stickler for tidiness. Paddington, feeling sorry for Mr. Curry, volunteers to help him with his chores. Unfortunately for Paddington his good intentions end up leading to chaos, as one by one each of his jobs starts to have an unexpected outcome! Will Paddington be able to fix everything before Mr. Curry and his great aunt arrive home?

For over 60 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has delighted children and families all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Darkest Peru, famous for his love of marmalade. Paddington is popular with both children and adults who feel a deep affection and warmth towards him. Charm and humor are the keys to the enduring love for the Paddington series. Paddington’s adventures have been adapted several times for television, with his debut onto the Big Screen in 2014. A further film, Paddington 2, followed in 2017 and a third film in the works. The movies were produced by StudioCanal, part of the international content and media group Vivendi. A new Paddington TV series, also from StudioCanal, launched on Nickelodeon in 2020. Run time is approximately 55 minutes. Tickets are $26, $36 and $75 depending on seat location. Contact the box office at 877.571.7469 for more information.

ENTER HERE TO WIN TICKETS:

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Win 4 Tickets to Disney on Ice Frozen and Encanto

2023-01-05T18:10:00.007-05:00

For my birthday this year I went with the family to Disney on Ice Find Your Hero! We had such a blast! It is truly a show for young and old. I am so excited to say I have a giveaway for 4 tickets to the February show on February 22 at 7 pm at the TD Garden. This show is Frozen & Encanto and looks like a blast!

We have been going to Disney on Ice since the kids were babies and they always love it. I used to love them dressing up to go to the show. The show is always awesome and you get to see all your favorite characters. Mickey Mouse is my favorite.

The Little Mermaid section was awesome.

Such talent! You see so much more beyond just skating.

Moana was so cool to see.

Lauren loves Rapunzel so the Tangled portion of the show was great.

The lanterns scene was so beautiful.

What an awesome show!

Now Disney on Ice Presents Frozen & Encanto is coming to Boston to the TD Garden from February 22 - 26, 2023! Read on to learn more about the show and enter to win 4 tickets to the show!

For the first time, Disney On Ice invites families to step inside the magical adventures of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen, the #1 Animated feature of all time, and Disney Animation’s Encanto, the 2022 Academy Award®, BAFTA®, and Golden Globe® Award winner for Best Animated Feature, as they come to life like never before. This adventure on ice transports fans into two of the most popular Disney films as audiences can sing-along to their favorite songs while embracing world-class ice skating, aerial acrobatics and more when it visits their hometown at . Audiences will see Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family live, as well as fan favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, and many more.

Narrating the captivating story of Frozen is Olaf, the lovable snowman who likes warm hugs and all things summer.

Astounding ice-skating transports families to Arendelle to be a part of Anna’s adventure to find Elsa, whose icy powers unleashed an eternal winter. Kristoff and Sven take fans along as they encounter wintry conditions in a race to bring back summer.

After a very Frozen adventure, audiences will journey to a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia where they will meet the Madrigals, an extraordinary family who live in a magical casita in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto.

Mirabel tells the tale of her amazing family and her journey to save the casita, her enchanted family home, alongside her sisters: Isabela, whose perfection radiates with her ability to make plants grow and flowers bloom with every step, and Luisa, with the gift of super strength that she uses to help her village move buildings and reroute rivers.

For the first time live, fans can witness Tia Pepa, who can control the weather with her emotions; her husband Felix; their daughter Dolores, with her gift to hear; and Bruno, the mysterious and misunderstood Madrigal family member whose visions foretold the future.

In the end, audiences will learn that everyone has their own gifts, magical or not, and being true to yourself and loving those around you is what makes you special. YOU are the magic!

WHERE: TD Garden – 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
WHEN: Wednesday, February 22 7:00pm Thursday, February 23 11:00am 3:00pm 7:00pm Friday, February 24 11:00am 3:00pm 7:00pm Saturday, February 25 11:00am 3:00pm 7:00pm Sunday, February 26 12:00pm 4:00pm

TICKETS: www.disneyonice.com

ENTER BELOW TO WIN 4 TICKETS TO THE SHOW ON FEBRUARY 22nd AT 7 PM

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for my family to attend the show and 4 tickets to giveaway for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and as always all opinions are my own.

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Win 4 Tickets to Disney on Ice Find Your Hero at the Agganis Arena

2022-11-22T14:31:00.007-05:00

A holiday time favorite, Disney on Ice is coming back to the Agganis Arena from December 22nd to January 2nd! I am giving away 4 tickets to the January 1st 4:00 pm show to a lucky reader! When I was young we couldn't go to Walt Disney World so every year on my birthday (December 27th) my parents would bring Disney to me by going to Disney on Ice. I have such fond memories seeing the show every year. I am so excited to share this fun with you!

More about the show:

Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero, an adventure filled with tales of heroism from your favorite Disney stories. “Find Your Hero.” The show is a magical medley of classic and modern tales of “Moana,” “Tangled,” and “Frozen,” as they skate through their adventures. Join fearless wayfinder Moana and demigod Maui as they bravely voyage into uncharted territories to return the stolen heart of Te Fiti. Journey alongside Anna and Elsa on their quest to protect the kingdom. Dive “Under The Sea” and test the power of true love with The Little Mermaid. Get tangled with Rapunzel as she dares to explore the world outside her own. And be there as Belle boldly tames the fearsome Beast. Discover that courage, determination and heart are all part of the hero in you! Perfectly timed during school break for the holidays, Disney On Ice skates into the Agganis Arena Dec. 22 – Jan. 2, 2023 with its latest spectacular.

ENTER BELOW TO WIN 4 TICKETS TO THE SHOW ON JANUARY 1ST AT 4 PM

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Win 4 Tickets to The Art of the Brick in Boston

2022-11-14T16:03:00.003-05:00

The The Art of the Brick exhibit is coming to Boston and I am giving you a chance to win 4 tickets on the date of your choice! This looks really cool!

More about the exhibit:

THE ART OF THE BRICK— a captivating exhibition featuring intriguing works of art by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya—is set to return to Boston following sold-out crowds in Faneuil Hall in 2014, this time taking residency in Boston on Newbury Street on Friday, November 18, 2022 through Sunday, April 23, 2022. The critically acclaimed collection experienced a sold-out run of more than 80,000 visitors in Boston in 2014 and now a new show twice the size will make its East Coast Premiere this month on Newbury Street.

The new exhibition will feature over 90 works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world—the LEGO® brick. Presale access is now available and tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, November 14. Tickets prices start at $28. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.artofthebrick exhibit.com.

Centrally located in the Back Bay area of Boston, the newly renovated Newbury Street location will introduce visitors to a reimagined museum-like experience, with breathtaking contemporary art at every turn. The collection features original pieces as well as re-imagined versions of some of the world's most famous art masterpieces made exclusively from LEGO bricks like Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Van Gogh's Starry Night and as well as a gallery showcasing an innovative, multimedia collection of LEGO brick infused photography that Sawaya produced in collaboration with award-winning photographer Dean West.

THE ART OF THE BRICK also includes fan favorite, Yellow, a sculpture of a man ripping his chest open with thousands of yellow LEGO bricks cascading from the cavity. In addition, visitors will be able to walk beside a 20-foot-long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton made out of bricks and come face-to-face with a giant LEGO skull.

“This bespoke Boston art installation explores some new themes I’m excited to showcase, as well as highlighting some old favorites,” said artist Nathan Sawaya. “New England has always welcomed THE ART OF THE BRICK warmly and we are thrilled to be returning after almost a decade.” THE ART OF THE BRICK is the first major exhibition to use LEGO bricks as the sole art medium. Sawaya transforms LEGO bricks into tremendous and thought-provoking sculptures, elevating the toy to the realm of art. Sawaya’s ability to transform this common toy into something meaningful, his devotion to spatial perfection and the way he conceptualizes action, enables him to elevate what almost every child has played with into the status of contemporary art. Seen by more than 10 million people world-wide, THE ART OF THE BRICK has inspired creativity and wonder in fans of all ages in over 100 cities in 24 countries across 6 continents. CNN rated THE ART OF THE BRICK as one of the global “top ten must-see exhibitions,” PBS NewsHour hailed the artist, “Nathan Sawaya the Leonardo Da Vinci of LEGO Art,” and The New York Times proclaimed “…the playfulness is contagious.”

ENTER BELOW TO WIN!

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets and giveaway tickets to The Art of the Brick for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and as always all opinions are my own.

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Giveaway: Win 4 Tickets to Aladdin the Musical at the Hanover Theatre

2022-10-04T09:55:00.010-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTY M FOR WINNING!

I am a huge Disney fan and I am so excited to share I have an awesome giveaway for 4 tickets to Aladdin the Musical at the Hanover Theatre on November 3rd at 7:30 pm! I can't wait for this show, it looks amazing.

You can buy your tickets here.

More about the show:

An extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Disney’s ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle.

Disney’s ALADDIN features all your favorite songs from the film as well as new music written by Tony® and Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Newsies) with lyrics penned by the legendary Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast), Tony Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Aida) and book writer Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer). Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!), this “Fabulous” and “Extravagant” (The New YorkTimes) new musical boasts an incomparable design team, with sets, costumes and lighting from Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins), Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots) and Natasha Katz (An American in Paris). See why audiences and critics agree, ALADDIN is “broadway magic” (The Wall Street Journal).

Here is a video preview.

ENTER NOW TO WIN!

You don't want to miss this show!

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Disclosure: I was given four tickets to the show to giveaway and for my family for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and as always all opinions are my own.

Giveaway: Win 4 Tickets to Peppa Pig

2022-09-14T20:23:00.005-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS AMY A FOR WINNING!

I have another awesome giveaway! I am giving away 4 tickets to Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA on October 21st. The show, featuring the globally beloved character of Peppa Pig, will delight audiences.

More about the Show:

Round Room Live and Hasbro are thrilled to announce that Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure will bring the loveable, cheeky little piggy to live audiences across the United States, with a stop in Worcester, MA on October 21, 2022. Tickets for the live, family-friendly musical experience are on sale now! For tickets and additional information, please contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) or visit TheHanoverTheatre.org.

Come join Peppa Pig on an exciting camping trip in the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. With lunchboxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventures, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises. Little piggies everywhere will love this 60-minute live musical experience! “We can’t wait to bring this delightful and captivating show, featuring such beloved characters, to audiences across the country,” says Stephen Shaw, tour producer and co-president of Round Room Live. “We’re proud to offer the most engaging and memorable family experiences for live entertainment fans of all ages.”

Enter to win tickets below!

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Giveaway: 4 Tickets to Mean Girls at the Hanover Theatre

2022-09-12T20:56:00.001-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS KYLE M FOR WINNING!

Mean Girls is coming to the Hanover Theatre in Worcester MA and I am giving away 4 tickets to the show on October 11th!

More about the show:

Direct from Broadway, MEAN GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon.) Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

New York Magazine cheers, “MEAN GIRLS delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” Audio Description services available at the Sunday matinee performance, 1 pm ASL available at the Sunday evening performance, 6:30 pm

Tickets range $35 to $89 depending on seat location and performance. Please contact the box office at 877.571.SHOW (7469) for more information.

BROADWAY PACKAGES BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL!

October 11-16 Tickets starting as low as $29 and front orchestra tickets as low as $49 with code: CADY *Tuesday and Wednesday performances only. Restrictions and handling fees may apply.

ENTER BELOW TO WIN 4 TICKETS TO THE OCTOBER 11th SHOW!

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Hawaii Vacation Top Places to Visit in Maui and the Big Island

2022-09-07T21:56:00.024-04:00

We just got back from a wonderful vacation to Maui and the Big Island. I had been to Hawaii 22 years ago on our honeymoon but not to the Big Island before. I just thought I would provide some of the highlights of our trip. I will start off with Maui where we were 5 nights.

MAUI KA'ANAPALI BEACH CLUB

We decided to stay in the Ka'anapali area as it has a wonderful beach and many shops and things to do nearby.

We enjoyed the pool and beach area.

So pretty.

Pretty at the beach

We got to see a wonderful sunset our first night.

Picture perfect!

What a beautiful hotel

The lobby area.

FEAST AT LELE

On our second night we went to a luau. I did a lot of investigation and decided the Feast at Lele would be the best to go to as it had a served dinner, drinks all night, and different dances matching up with different areas including fire twirling. Being a fire twirler myself I was really looking forward to that.

It was lovely on the beach at sunset as we arrived.

Great performances and 5 course of food representing Hawaii, Tahiti, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Samoa. With a big finale of fire knife twirling!

The dancing was beautiful.

Gorgeous outfits and lots of quick changes.

I highly recommend going.

The food and drinks were awesome.

And the show was fantastic!

ROAD TO HANA

We then drove the road to Hana. We drove ourselves and opted not to do a tour company. We managed the whole road in a day and drove fully around instead of doubling back.

So many gorgeous spots to stop and wonderful views to see. We downloaded some information so we knew what to look for at different mile markers. We stopped and parked and explored.

This was at the Garden of Eden Arboretum.

There was a small fee to enter.

Beautiful

Beautiful waterfalls.

Gorgeous

Evan did the hike 3 miles at Haleakala State Park to get to this waterfall.

On the way back around. They recommended not driving this way but it really wasn't bad.

Loved seeing the cows.

AQUA ADVENTURES MOLOKINI AND TURTLE ARCH SNORKELING

We went on a boat to snorkel. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

Here we all are.

Love the turtles.

So fun!

Molokini

Evan with the turtle.

Lauren and I with the turtle.

A definite must do!

FRONT STREET

A great place with restaurants and little stores. I love Dole Whip so we had to get one at Lappert's.

We Not on Front Street but keep an eye out for Manuaela Malasadas. Malasadas are a Portuguese fried dough but in Hawaii they make them in to donuts. So good!

You can get them plain or filled with yummy fillings.

JET SKI MAUI

We also did some jet skiing on Ka'anapali Beach. I booked this online and you just go to Whaler's Village and on the beach behind the shopping area look for the red and white umbrella.

They take you out by a small boat to where the jet skis are and you get 45 minutes to ride them.

The view from the jet ski area.

THE BIG ISLAND

GRAND NANILOA HOTEL HILO - A DOUBLETREE BY HILTO

We stated at the Grand Naniloa Hotel. It was the perfect location as it was close to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which was the focus of our visit.

It was lovely.

There was even nightly entertainment and we were given drink coupons.

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

We were really excited to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and spent the majority of two days there. The first day it was a bit misty and rained a bit but it was perfect for the longer hike along the crater.

One of the lovely overlooks. You can drive to a lot of the spots. Stopping at the visitor center first is key to get grounded and learn where to go. Also download the National Park Services app.

Crater hike - about 3 miles

We also drove along the Chain of Craters drive which took about an hour and ends at a lovely overlook at the water. You can do as little or as much as you want.

We went through the lava tube. This had just recently reopened.

Another overlook.

We did the one mile hike (which was very flat) at night to see the light of the eruption. This was a highlight of the trip also. Parking is limited at the closer parking lot so arrive early. We got there early to walk there before dark and get a good spot.

Bring a flashlight for the way back as it is very dark on the path.

PUNALULU BLACK SAND BEACH

We did this on one of the same days as Volcanoes National Park as it isn't far. It is one of the most famous black sand beaches with tons of turtles. A highlight for me.

Love this turtle!
So pretty but not great to go in the water.
Covering themselves with the sand.
Lovely!
RAINBOW FALLS

A beautiful waterfall right near the road and easy to get to. It was only 10 minutes from our hotel.

AKAKA FALLS

Another beautiful falls with a short .5 mile hike.

Beautiful flowers.

KONA

KAILUA TOWN

There was a kayak race going on.

MOUNTAIN THUNDER KONA COFFEE PLANTATION

We felt like we had to check out a Kona Coffee Plantation so on our last day we went to Mountain Thunder and took a free tour.

Of course we had to sample their coffee, so good!

They also had a self guided tour we took after the free tour.

The resident cat.

ULULANI'S HAWAIIN SHAVE ICE

At least 5 people told me we had to try it and it did not disappoint.

We had a blast on this vacation! Mahalo Hawaii!

Disclosure: The Feast at Lele gave me a media rate to attend. As always all opinions are my own.

Family Fun at a Red Sox Game

2022-08-02T13:24:00.005-04:00

I have been writing about the Boston Red Sox for a long time, in fact it has been about 10 years. I have seen Fenway Park evolve in to the family friendly park it is today with the addition of the Kids Concourse and Out of the Park events for families. Recently my family was invited to come to a game and go on the field before the game for batting practice. The kids were thrilled.

Big difference in them in the 10 years they have been coming to games. Look at how adorable they were.

Just entering the park is always so exciting.

Here was our view on the field.

Lauren enjoying being on the field before the game.

Then we headed up to the Green Monster. These are awesome seats!

In fact Evan caught a ball once up here. He was beyond excited.

The view from up there.

Gorgeous!

We then headed over to the bleacher area where many kids were yelling to try and get a ball.

We then headed to the LL Bean Kids Concourse where there are tons of food options and fun things for the kids including face painting, balloon animals and VR experiences. You can also become a member of Kid Nation which is an awesome program for kids 14 and under!

Some fun photo ops.

When they were younger before Tessie arrived.

There is even my buddy Mickey Mouse!

Then it was time for the game. There was a beautiful pre-game ceremony.

Tim Wakefield!

Ready to play ball.

A couple pictures of players.

Wally and Tessie!

They lost but it is always a blast being at the park watching the game live!

Get some tickets now and head on out to Fenway!

https://www.mlb.com/redsox/tickets

Disclosure: I was provided tickets to the Red Sox Game and on-field credentials. No additional compensation was received and as always my opinions are my own.

Broadway in Boston Wicked

2022-07-23T12:53:00.010-04:00

We were able to attend a performance of Wicked, from Broadway at Boston, at the Citizens Bank Opera House and it was AMAZING!

The whole cast was wonderful but Jennafer Newberry as Glinda and Lissa deGuzzman as Elphaba really were shining stars. Glinda had me laughing out loud numerous times during the show, she really was phenomenal.

Elphaba was so convincing too with an amazing voice. Plus her green skin was on point.

Jordan Litz as Fiyero was truly a prince from a Disney movie. He was so fantastic.

Every little detail was so well done even starting out with the dragon at the top of the stage. The costuming was wonderful along with special effects.

The story is such a good one. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Citizens Bank Opera House is gorgeous.

More about the show:

So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.

WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravity,” “Popular” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the decade.”

Time Magazine cheers, “if every musical had the brain, the heart, and the courage of WICKED, Broadway really would be a magical place.” The Gershwin Theatre on 50th Street and Broadway is that magical place. From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story. It will send your spirits soaring to heights you’ll never forget.

Broadway in Boston has so many awesome shows coming up! Make sure to get tickets to them now! They also have Anastasia and Hamilton!

Disclosure: We were provided with four tickets to Wicked from Broadway in Boston for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Win 4 Tickets to Cirque du Soleil CRYSTAL in Boston

2022-05-18T18:27:00.006-04:00

I am so excited that Cirque du Soleil is coming back to Boston with their awesome show CRYSTAL. It will be playing at the Agganis Arena in Boston, MA from June 1 - 12, 2022. Read on to win 4 tickets to the show!

I am giving away 4 tickets to the Premiere night performance on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 7:30PM at the Agganis Arena. Enter below to win!

About CRYSTAL

Created by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, our misfit lead character, 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 of Cirque du Soleil. CRYSTAL is suitable for all ages.

Here is short video preview:

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Disclosure: I was provided tickets to the show for review purposes and for the giveaway. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Blue Man Group Fun for All Ages

2022-05-04T11:17:00.006-04:00

I love exposing my kids to all different types of shows and experiences. Recently we went to see Blue Man Group which has always been a crowd pleaser for our family. The first time we took the kids they were only 6 and 8 and they love it. Since then we have gone two more times and always had a blast! This time they brought some friends who were very excited to see the show.

There was a bunch of added shows for School Vacation week making it easy to get in and out of Boston during the week or weekend. The Charles Playhouse has convenient discounted parking at 200 Stuart Street for only $10. They also have Family Four Packs of tickets to save you money.

Blue Man Group is really hard to explain and to be honest I wouldn't want to give away what happens in the show but it is a lot of fun! It includes comedy, theater, rock concert and a dance party all in one! This will not be a show to bore the kids.

Remember that if you are in the front set of rows there are plastic parkas on the seats as something may fly out at you. We were in the first row without the parkas. The theater is on the smaller side so every seat is a great seat!

Plus every time we see the show it is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology. It is so amazing that a show with no words spoken is so mesmerizing to adults and kids alike.

For more information about Blue Man Group, visit https://www.blueman.com/ or call 1.800.BLUEMAN. The show has no intermission and runs about an hour and 40 minutes.

What is it?

Get your blue on and go see the show!

Give them some blue love online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluemangroup

Twitter: @BMGBoston and @bluemangrou

Hashtags #BlueManBos

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bluemangroup/

Disclosure: I was provided tickets to the show for review purposes. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Giveaway for 4 Tickets to Imagine Van Gogh Boston

2021-12-13T13:31:00.005-05:00

I am so excited to be offering my readers another amazing giveaway. This time I have partnered with Imagine Van Gogh, the ORIGINAL immersive exhibition in Image Totale © Boston to giveaway 4 tickets to any date the reader selects. Enter below to win!

This beautiful exhibit features more than 200 of the Dutch artist’s paintings. It is making its debut in Boston on December 21st 2021 and will be here until February 20th.

It will be at the iconic SoWa Power Station centrally located in the city’s popular SoWa Art + Design District. A true architectural wonder that once housed the world’s largest power generation plant, The SoWa Power Station has recently been renovated into an allseason events space intended to serve as a blank canvas for community, celebration, and innovation. Imagine Van Gogh has sold more than 400,000 tickets across Canada this past year.

Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron, renowned for their work at Cathédrale d’Images in Les Bauxde-Provence, France, are the Artistic Directors behind the creation of the Imagine Van Gogh. The UNIQUE exhibit brings Van Gogh’s canvases to life in a vivid, spectacular way: the audience will truly enter the artist’s world of dreams; visitors are literally transported on a journey to the heart of the artist’s work. “Original canvasses are expanded and fragmented, then projected into unusual shapes to emphasize the mesmerizing exaggerations and distortions of Van Gogh’s work. Visitors experience their energy, emotion, and beauty like never before.” - Annabelle Mauger.

With the safety of guests, employees and the community as the highest priority, the GRANDIOSE Imagine Van Gogh will open in December 2021 during a more secured period of the year and will be in accordance with the public health guidelines in Massachusetts. The exhibition is a contactless experience spanning over 24,000 square feet with a limited number of guests that will be allowed in on a timed-entry basis, hand sanitizer will be provided, physical distancing of six feet will be required, and masks will be mandatory upon entering. The exhibition will adhere to all safety guidelines established by the Massachusetts government. Tickets start at $33.99 (plus service charges and fees).

For more information, please visit www.imagine-vangogh.com

Enter below to win tickets to any date and time of your choice that is available.

Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for Imagine Van Gogh for my family and for giveaway for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received and as always all opinions are my own.

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Giveaway for 4 Tickets to A Christmas Story, The Musical

2021-12-01T21:49:00.002-05:00

Theater is back in Boston and I am so excited to offer my readers a chance to win 4 tickets to A Christmas Story, The Musical at the Boch Center, Wang Theatre on Friday, December 10th at 7:00 pm. I am so excited about this show based on the beloved movie.

More about the show:

A Christmas Story, The Musical From the songwriting team behind the smash hit Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen and the Academy Award-winning film La La Land, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, brings the classic 1983 movie to hilarious life on stage! Set in 1940s Indiana, a young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle.

An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish.

For more information, visit: https://www.achristmasstoryontour.com/

ENTER BELOW TO WIN!

Disclosure: Tickets for A Christmas Story, The Musical have been provided for review purposes and for giveaway. No other compensation has been received and all opinions are my own.

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10 Reasons to visit Atlantis Bahamas

2021-08-30T22:29:00.007-04:00

We had an absolutely amazing time at Atlantis Bahamas. To say it is Paradise is an understatement. It is so gorgeous, and I want to share my Top 10 reasons to visit.
Believe me I could come up with 100 but I will limit it to the top 10!

10. Gorgeous views from your room.

I could just go out on our deck in the morning and enjoy the lovely view.

We were in the Royal Tower at Atlantis and had a wonderful view.

Lovely!

So pretty, I loved this seahorse right next to our room.

Here is a short video:

9. Aquaventure, Atlantis Paradise Island's water park!

It is a one-of-a-kind 141-acre waterscape with complimentary admission for over-night guests at Atlantis. My personal favorite was The Serpent. This slide starts in a dark tube but ends in a float through sharks and other fish.

I love that you float through slowly so you can enjoy the views.

Here is some video on that slide.

Evan also did the Leap of Faith that drops you in to the tube that you speed through with sharks.

Here you can see the sharks swimming around.

Evan also did the Abyss that drops you in to this cool area.

The Challenger slide is a big hit too as you can race each other, and it shows your time on a display.

We also loved the River Rapids. It is so fun floating along in it.

I love the little rapids sections that moves you along.

8. The island drinks and snacks by the pool and beach.

One of the first things I did was order a Bahama Mama. When in the Bahamas you have to!

Plus, they had Dole Whip! My favorite! This turned in to a daily snack.

Here is a Pina colada with blue curacao.

Another view of a dole whip.

This was called a Miami Vice - Pina colada and strawberry daiquiri.

This drink was crazy! It was a frozen hot chocolate with tons of fun snacks on it!

This was non-alcoholic and from Chocotini and it was right next to the Royal pool.

7. Crush Teen/Tween Club

They do have a cover charge and proof of age must be shown.

There is even a place for tweens and teens to hang out at night. There were times set aside for tweens and then my kids entered at the teens time which was 9:30 pm-12:30 am.

There are pool tables

Gaming systems.

Snacks and drinks that they can use their room key to pay for.

There is dancing too. My kids stayed till after mid-night which was cool. They really enjoyed it.

Definitely a great place for the kids to check out while the parents head to a bar or the casino.

6. Instagrammable Picture Spots

If you know today's teens the perfect spot for pictures is key. We found some gorgeous spots to do some photo shoots. Lauren had the perfect dress for this background.

Even Evan wanted his picture taken. Usually, I have to fight to get him to take a picture.

We loved the swing too.

So pretty.

The beach is always a gorgeous background.

Another pretty spot.

You have to take a picture in the cool chair. This is a little past the lobby on your way to Marina Village.

This is in the lobby.

I mean how can you go wrong with a place like this.

Here is a little overview video too:

5. Marine life everywhere you look.

This is The Dig which is on the lower level of the lobby.

It is deceivingly big with lots of fish and cool stuff to see.

So cool.

Plus, there are cool turtles. We could even see them from our room.

There are tanks everywhere you look.

This stingray was huge.

Love the sharks.

4. Marina Village

It has tons of little shops and restaurants. The Marina area was a short walk from the Royal and a super cute area.

There is a gorgeous view of the resort.

Plus, amazing boats are there. Lauren also found some cute bracelets and rings at the little shops. Evan bought a cool carved crab.

3. Great Restaurants!

We especially liked SeaFire Steakhouse which is in Marina Village.

The drinks were really yummy.

Here is my filet mignon with blue cheese on it. It was so good and cooked perfectly.

We also got some sides including this sweet potato side.

Here was a deconstructed cheesecake we got for dessert.

2. Gorgeous Beaches for miles

The water was so clear and beautiful.

We loved the Cove beach which was lovely with very little waves.

This is the Cove building.

I was obsessed with the palm trees. I especially loved this one.

So pretty.

So gorgeous. The water was beautiful. There were also people walking up and down the beach to take drink orders.

2. Pools and relaxation everywhere you look

We loved going to all the pools. We could go to the beach then hop in the pool.

I liked waking up early and heading down to the pool. Here you can see how serene it is with no one in sight.

The Royal tower pool.

My pictures can't even do this resort justice. It is truly amazing, and you won't be disappointed.

Check them out: https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/

Disclosure: We were provided with an upgraded room, transfers to and from the airport, dinner at the SeaFire Steakhouse and cover charge for the Crush teen club by Atlantis Bahamas. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are my own.

Dolphin Encounter at Blue Lagoon Bahamas

2021-08-21T17:11:00.005-04:00

Recently we went to Paradise Island in the Bahamas. While we were there we decided to do an excursion to Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas. Our experience was amazing having a dolphin encounter and relaxing on an amazing beach with inflatable slides. It was a must-visit for anyone going to the Bahamas.

"Their missions is to inspire and engage our guests to learn more about marine animals and to preserve and protect our extraordinary ocean environment through educational, sustainable, interactive, authentic Bahamian experiences." They even rescued many sea lions after Hurricane Katrina.

We were staying at Atlantis in the Bahamas and it was very convenient to get to the Ferry. It was just a short 10-minute walk from our room. Our ferry was scheduled to leave at 10:00 am and it was suggested to arrive for check-in about 45 minutes in advance. We checked in and got our bands which had our dolphin encounter time on them. Here is the ferry we went on. We felt totally safe as masks were required and they limited the amount of people.

The ride to Blue Lagoon was about a half-hour and we got to see some beautiful homes on the way over. Some where owned by people like Oprah, Beyoncé, and Michael Jordan.

Some views of our journey.

When we arrived at Blue Lagoon it was gorgeous.

It looked totally like paradise!

But before we could start exploring we had to get prepared for our dolphin encounter as it was scheduled first at 11:00 am. We headed straight across off the boat as directed and checked in. While we were waiting we saw some beautiful dolphins.

They were so adorable and seemed excited for their play date with us.

They also have other programs such as Sea Lion Encounters, Stingray Encounters, and Swimming with the dolphins which includes a foot push by a dolphin. You can see all of those programs here.

We were gathered into a seating area and told some rules of where we could and couldn't touch the dolphin. People could ask questions and the first group was counted out for their encounter. We walked down to a platform and were given life vests and a locker to put valuables. This tented area is where our encounter was. We all sat along the edge and were called in by group to the platform in the water.

We entered the water and got to see this cutie, Clifton. We started by each bending down a bit in the water and hugging him.

All these pictures and a video were taken by Blue Lagoon staff and sold after the fact. Keep in mind that you may not bring any cameras or phones in the water and if you have observers with you they will only see your back.

Look at that pure joy on my face.

Then he came back to us one by one to dance with. This was adorable.

We got down and boogied with him. He gave me a few splashes after my dance.

He really liked Lauren's dance.

Afterward he spun around splashing away. During the encounter, he also swam out into the water and did some tricks that were very impressive.

We then got to rub his back and stomach as he swam by us.

It was so cool.

Here is video of our dolphin encounter.

After this fun, we were ready to hit the beach. We headed over the bridge to the beach.

Here you can see some of the inflatable equipment they have.

The beach is gorgeous and has two bars and a place to eat.

We grabbed some chairs and hopped in the water to cool off.

I love that they had tubes to float around in.

We then decided to go over and get lunch which was included.

There were hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken wings, salad, and a drink of lemonade/iced tea/lemonade.

Now that the kids were fueled up they decided to go on the inflatables. It took a lot of upper body strength but they made it to the top to slide down.

This required another wristband and they needed to get life jackets.

There were also kayaks and other water sports you could pay extra to experience. But honestly, for us, relaxation was now on the menu and we got some drinks. The kids even enjoyed some virgin frozen daiquiris.

There were also some pretty places to take pictures.

Such beauty everywhere you look.

So gorgeous!

Here you can see a ping pong table.

I highly suggest a visit to Blue Lagoon if you are in the Bahamas.

Learn all about their programs and book reservations in advance: https://www.dolphinencounters.com/

Disclosure: I was provided with a Dolphin Encounter, access to the inflatable slides, and lunch for promotional purposes. No other compensation was received, and as always all opinions are my own.

Air Canada Horror Story From Toronto to Boston

2021-08-16T12:18:00.015-04:00

We recently went to the Bahamas to Atlantis which I will be writing about soon but first I want to share our horrendous experience on Air Canada returning to Boston. There is no short story to this so bear with me. (Note this is not a sponsored post)

Image credit @AlicePond3

It all started when we got off the plane at Toronto Pearson International Airport. They have a bizarre system that herds people in a room to scan boarding passes and then you wait for your initials to display on a video screen. It is like hitting the lottery when you see your name as our family cheered and we continued on to the next screening. Once we got past this, we thought we were good to go. We were so wrong.

This is what transpired:

We arrived at the gate at 6:00 which is the time that boarding was supposed to start for a 6:30 pm flight. When we arrived, it was empty at the desk, but we could see the plane at the gate.
We continued to sit there waiting for a gate agent for two and a half hours with no updates, no one at the gate, and no food options open (even the vending machines were out of order). When approaching another gate agent, I was told I have no information for you and you have to go to Customer Service which was quite a walk. My husband went to Customer Service to be yelled at why are you here, we have no information!
We watched the monitors continue to update our flight time moving it at 1/2 hour increments to eventually taking it off the display and then reappearing back.
Finally, a gate agent appeared and told us that she would start boarding us soon. She went on to the plane and then came back about a 1/2 hour later and was on both a phone a walkie-talkie. She then announced she had bad news that our flight crew had timed out and that our flight was canceled. She went on to say don't approach me I can't help you. Everyone needs to go to Customer Service. She ducked out so quick it was like watching a cartoon seeing a character run away with a puff of smoke.
The whole plane worth of people headed to Customer Service where low and behold no one was there. We all stood there for god knows how long waiting, I was tweeting along with others. Some were trying to call Air Canada. We could see two Air Canada employees above us through the glass just looking down at us not helping.
Finally, a baggage person from Air Canada showed up and we all gathered around to hear the announcement. We had been rebooked on a flight the next day at 2 pm and we could go to a hotel. They sent him as the sacrificial lamb as he couldn't do anything and really didn't know all the rules of the airport.
We were then sent up to Customs and put into a line to exit the airport, but the fun doesn't stop there. An announcement was then made by a scary Customs person saying if you flew from Bahamas or Athens to come to the side and we would not be allowed entry into Canada and would need to remain in the airport!!!!
At that point, we were taken upstairs to a holding area. Luckily a really nice lady who worked at the airport (and we found out wasn't even supposed to be working that day but came in) and told us if we had a US passport and were vaccinated she was working on getting us entry. She was a savior and came back and walked us down to two Customs agents that checked our documentation and allowed us out of the airport. We were lucky to get a nice Customs agent who scanned our Covid tests and let us through. Another family was taken to another room as we all had just done the rapid Antigen Covid test as we were just passing through Canada and the US requires the quick test. Canada requires the PCR test. Luckily after a bit of them talking they let them leave.
We hopped on a shuttle and went to the hotel I booked while all this was going on. We finally settled in our room by 12:30 am. We returned the next day and the vibe was hilarious. It was like a reunion of stranded travelers and we all bonded and talked over our experience. We also had a lawyer on the plane that took all of our names and information and we are now part of a Facebook Group to discuss.
Our gate was moved twice, and it really wasn't looking promising but eventually an hour late we did take off.
Our concerns over our luggage were soon realized as we arrived in Boston and only 2 bags came out on the carousel. One of ours happened to be 1 of those 2 bags. But 99% of the plane was missing bags. We also found out that people saw them putting bags of sand on the plane to weigh it down due to the lack of luggage. Also, at the gate, we waited in Toronto as they said they were counting bags. I guess counting to 2 takes a while. When looking online it says they are still trying to locate the luggage.
What we later found out is this hell had been going on with Air Canada and the Toronto Pearson Airport. See the article here and here. We also found out that they were holding people on other planes for 2-3 hours saying there were backups at Customs (though Customs said they always blame us, we didn't have backups) therefore the gate agent took too long to come to our gate and by then the flight crew had timed out and could not continue to work.

The lack of communication was crazy!

Due to the Canadian Transportation Agency, we should be entitled to compensation which is why we formed a group for power in numbers to fight.

Also, multiple laws were broken by them with no communication.

I will post any updates on this craziness as I have it.

Update: We have been credited our baggage fee and are receiving a check for our hotel and food. As for the flight disruption claim they said we are not entitled to the $1000 for our flight delay of over 9 hours as it was related to Covid. I am continuing to fight this.

Mystic Aquarium Fun and Jurassic Giants

2021-07-26T14:48:00.131-04:00

I have loved the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT for years. It is truly one of the best aquariums I have been to. Plus every time we visit there is a new exhibit. This time we got to see Jurassic Giants! Travel back in time to see dinosaurs! Read on to learn more about that.

Our first stop is always the Beluga Whales. The day we visited they were especially playful and playing with their toys.

Seriously how adorable is this?
I love watching them and could seriously sit there all day.

A little video.

However there is so much more so we had to keep exploring. Next we headed to the sea lions.

They did not disappoint and were also having tons of fun.
Love it!
So adorable.

Making an easy loop then puts you up close with the penguins.

Who doesn't love penguins? Read about when we did a Penguin Encounter.

We then headed over to the Jurassic Giants Exhibit. This exhibit changes every time we visit. We have seen Titanic, Frogs and other exhibits.

These larger than life dinosaurs were very cool.
My son always loved dinosaurs so this was awesome.

Here is some video.

We then headed to some of the indoor exhibits.

I love jelly fish. So pretty.
I like this cool turtle.
Sharks are always a big hit.
So cool.

This is just a sampling of all there is to do at the Mystic Aquarium. It is definitely worth a day trip!

Follow Mystic Aquarium on Twitter: @mysticaquarium

Like the Mystic Aquarium on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysticaquarium

Disclosure: I was provided tickets for my family and I to go to Mystic Aquarium, and tickets for the Jurassic Giants Exhibit. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Caring for a Dog with Epilepsy

2021-02-10T16:15:00.005-05:00

Our little furry friends count on us for everything in life. When we adopted Shellie the Sheltie we had no idea the ride it would be. This little cutie got diagnosed with epilepsy at only one year old. The disease doesn't stop her from living her best life!

We got her as an 8 week old puppy months after losing our first Sheltie, Fred.

One day she started shaking, drooling, and would fall backwards. The first day this started it literally happened 12 times in that day. After a quick trip to the vet we were given some phenobarbital pills for her to take. Luckily, she is a pretty laid-back dog and will eat the pills right in her food. Our previous dog would sniff out pills and spit them out or leave them in the bowl, so we had to get creative whenever he needed to take one.

Unfortunately, the seizures didn't stop. Our vet tried adjusting the medication dose however it wasn't enough. We were sent to a neurologist. (Yes, they have a neurologist for dogs)

The neurologist ran some tests on Shellie and also offered an MRI. Unfortunately, an MRI costs thousands of dollars and ultimately you need to decide what you are going to do with the results. Will you subject your puppy to brain surgery? Given her age and her breed the neurologist agreed that an MRI was not required and instead try to control the epileptic seizures with medicine. At worst if we couldn't get the seizures to stop, she would need to be admitted to the hospital to give her an IV and get them under control. We were also told that her blood would need to be checked regularly to check her kidney function and if the phenobarbital was in a therapeutic range.

The neurologist provided us with a new medicine called clorazepate which is a rescue drug. This is meant to stop clusters of seizures when they start. We started giving one pill right away and every 8 hours until they stopped for 24 hours which luckily was right away. Her brain needed a bit of a reset to stop seizing.

She started doing much better. We knew that the meds would not stop the seizures entirely, but the frequency was less. We also now knew the telltale signs. If she wasn't right next to us and we found her with her white fur under her mouth all wet she probably had a seizure. One day she had a very major seizure that lasted a few minutes. Even with giving the clorazepate she was stuck in a cluster. She ultimately got to the point where she could not stand for a whole day. Off to the vet we went, and the prognosis didn't look good. This happened to be the week my Dad passed away also so I was a mess and back and forth to the hospital with him too. I couldn't lose them both.

We headed back to the neurologist who put my mind at ease, and we added another medication, potassium bromide. This medicine is a liquid that we squirt on to her food. She also gave us another rescue med, Valium. This could be used in extreme circumstances like what had happened.

Luckily, she started walking again normally and recovered. I have joined many Facebook groups on dogs with epilepsy and learned a lot. It really is trial and error trying to find the optimal medication combination to control the seizures. An ice pack on the back during a seizure helps and calming words. I even hold her when she has them but is only advised if they aren't too violent. Now her seizures are quite mild and monthly, and we give her clorazepate when they start. During the last few years, she has had ones where she has bit her lip and been bleeding or peed/pooped on the floor while having it.

The meds also have side affects. Phenobarbital causes excessive hunger so she wants food all the time. We have to monitor her food intake so that she doesn't get overweight. The clorazepate at the beginning would cause her to act drunk. She would sway side to side and sometimes fall over and be very sleepy. Those side affects have lessened but she does sometimes whine would putting her food like she is so hungry she can't wait.

I also learned we have to watch ingredients in treats. Specifically, things like rosemary extract which can trigger seizures. I read the ingredients on everything we buy her.

Despite her disease she lives a very full life. Here she is living her best life tubing on the Saco River in NH.

She loved the waterfalls.

She went to see the sunflowers.

She even went on the Conway Scenic Railroad for her birthday in NH.

She always dresses up for Halloween.

And she loves to ask Santa for gifts.

Here's to many more birthdays for this sweet girl!

They really are part of the family and we hope she is part of ours for a long time. We know she is a little extra work, but we have all learned to help her during seizures and respond quickly.

If you want to follow her adventures she even has an Instagram handle: shellie.the.sheltie

Grieving as an Only Child

2021-02-08T19:45:00.009-05:00

It has been quite a while since I have written a post. There has been a real lack of opportunities with the pandemic as I generally blog about live shows, family attractions and travel. I thought it was time to share some of my own experience during this crazy COVID time related to loss. Over the last year and a half I lost both of my parents (not to COVID).

The journey started three years ago when my father was diagnosed with MDS (Myelodysplastic syndrome). It is a rare (fewer than 200,000 cases in the US per year) blood cancer. Even though it is a pre-leukemia the oncologist explained he would pass from it before it even developed into leukemia. I learned much more than I thought I ever would about it from the internet and trips to Tufts Medical to see an oncologist who is a specialist in the disease and visits to the Cancer Center. My Dad suffered through chemotherapy, many platelet and red blood cell transfusions and several stays in the hospital. It was difficult on me being an only child as all of the help rested on my shoulders. I would get calls at all hours of the night that he was being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance or most times he wanted me to drive him. I could tell them in the ER the values of his blood and platelets in which they should transfuse. My father would kid around that I was a doctor, which is very amusing as the sight of blood makes me pass out.

Not only was this time difficult enough with my Dad's illness but my Mom also had a major stroke in the car on the way to my daughter's dance competition. She ended up going into rehab for a long time to regain her memory and relearn how to do things. All the while my Dad was still in and out of the hospital and dinners rested on me as my Dad didn't cook. There were times I didn't think I could do it anymore. I was trying to balance my family, work, and my parents who at the time felt like two more children.

After struggling with the disease for so long and two regimens of chemotherapy nothing was helping. My Dad was rushed to the hospital and he called me at 3 am to say he was done with chemo and transfusions and just wanted to let nature take its course. That message is still on our answering machine and I don't have the heart to listen to it. I ended up talking to him in the morning to hear of his wishes. I worked with the hospital to have him sent to a Hospice Facility. At the time they said he could possibly live a couple weeks but instead only lasted two days. I heard his last breath and called the nurses.

It was a difficult time. I had to sell my childhood home (which has since been torn down and rebuilt) and move my Mom in with my family. My Mom now had no will to live crying all the time and asking to die. It was heartbreaking. Things that she once loved like watching my daughter dance she was no longer interested in. It was difficult taking care of her. She would throw out visiting nurses, refused any medication for her depression, and was sometimes difficult. I felt like I was taking care of a toddler but one who was my Mom and could say no. She went unconscious at the kitchen table and ended up in the hospital only 2 weeks after moving in with us. I felt like a failure and even remember saying to the paramedics how she had recently moved in and obviously I wasn't doing a good job taking care of her. She ended up going to rehab as they said her blood pressure was dropping when she stood up too fast. My son was very sad as he had setup Thanksgiving to look like it did in my childhood home. Unfortunately, she spent Thanksgiving in the hospital. I remember how excited my Mom was to go to see my daughter perform in A Charlie Brown Christmas, pictured here. This was the last time she left the house before she passed 10 months later.

Ultimately about 10 months later in October of 2020 she fell in our house (after many falls) and went unconscious again and was mumbling random numbers. She went to the hospital who sent her to rehab the next day. She ended up having another major stroke in the rehab center and passed within a week. This was quite unexpected as I just thought her meds would be adjusted and she would be fine like before. With COVID it was difficult to see her. She was placed in quarantine because she had come from the hospital even with the fact her test at the hospital was negative and her not leaving the house since when the pandemic began. When she had the major stroke they allowed me to go see her with a N95 mask, face shield and gown. It was heartbreaking! She couldn't talk, move her right side, or even eat. Seeing her like this and discussing her wishes previously I knew she didn't want to live like this and though it broke my heart not to have her go back to the hospital with her DNR I needed to honor her wishes and let her go. I would call family and friends and put them on the phone with her to say their goodbyes. It was gut wrenching to listen to, especially her brother.

The last day I went to see my son play soccer and then headed to the rehab center. I was limited by the rehab center in how long I could spend with her. Unfortunately, when I arrived, she was already gone. The nurse said they had checked in on her 10 minutes before and she was alive. Those 10 minutes will haunt me forever. What if I had not talked to a couple parents after the game, if I had driven faster, I will never know. As I cried holding her hand all I could do was apologize that she passed away all alone. I will never forgive myself for this.

During this time it was so hard being an only child. Growing up I always wanted a brother or sister. I was so envious of people who had them. I had no one to hang out with on vacation, talk to about boyfriends or play with. As I got older I realized how much that want paled in comparison to the want now. Someone to help bear the brunt of drives to Chemo and blood transfusions with my Dad, to bring food to my Mother, help with cleaning out my childhood home, someone to go to rehab to help my Mother relearn everything after her stroke and someone to help with her care after my Dad passed. Someone to reminisce about the trip where the car broke down or keep me company for hours upon hours in the hospital. To help make the tough decisions at the end. As I walked out of the rehab center on the last day carrying the two bags of her belongings by myself, I never felt so alone and that I have no one that shares those memories with me of growing up with my parents. No one to call as I would call my Mother daily since the day I left for college. I always said I needed a calming person in my life (I have a lot of anxiety) and she was my calming person making me feel better when I got a bad grade or had too many drops in a baton competition.

I still stay awake every night wondering if I should have done things differently in their last days. Their wish after passing was to be cremated and put in an urn together so they would be together forever, and they didn't want a wake or funeral. I personally feel like I missed out on some closure when they passed not having these normal ceremonies to grieve, see family and friends and celebrate their life. I never wrote a eulogy, created a picture collage of them or got to hug family and friends. This makes me sad beyond words. 

This picture is from the last Christmas Eve we spent together. The following year my Dad was too sick from chemo to come over. The holidays this year were especially hard.

This was our last Thanksgiving together in my childhood home.

Never take a second for granted. I know it is cliché but say all you feel you need to. Let loved ones know how you feel. I know that I need to take my own advice and wish I had said more in my parents last weeks. I hope they are proud of me and thankful for all I did for them as they got older. It is amazing how things change over time and the people you counted on the most then count on you. I only hope I did all I could and made the right decisions.

I hope they are both at peace. I do wish they got to see their grandchildren grow up more as they were the light of their lives.