Gunning It

Build the Nest to help Adopting Families

2013-05-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

My husband and I have been blessed to have three healthy children with little effort conceiving. However there are many families that are not as fortunate. Some families choose the adventure of adoption but it is not an easy road. One organization that supports families with the overwhelming process of international adoption is The Sparrow Fund. The Sparrow Fund supports adoptive families by providing grants - "grants to pay for the preadoption counseling and support, medical reviews of the file of the child they are referred, and post adoption support as their child becomes part of their family."

During the month of May, many folks have joined forces to Build the Nest by donating 10% of sales to The Sparrow Fund. So I encourage you to take a look at the long list of businesses and do some shopping this month while supporting charity. Now is a great time to purchase Father's Day gifts, summer birthday gifts, and what about End-of-the-Year Teacher Gifts?

2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship and Giveaway

2013-05-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

This June my family and I have been given the opportunity to attend the 2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship courtesy of Wells Fargo Center, Comcast-Spectacor. Not only are they sending us to the Rugby tournament but they are also sending one lucky reader.

We have never been to a Rugby tournament so I am super excited to take the kids into Philly this summer and attend at PPL Park. Nick loves all sports so I know he will be fascinated by the games , plus one of the top collage teams playing is St. Joseph's University, our alma mater. Not to mention we have never visited the beautiful PPL Park, home to the Philadelphia Union soccer team. The tournament will be held at noon on June 1 and 2 at PPL Park just minutes outside of the city. To purchase discounted tickets now visit this link and enter code: BLOG.

The tournament will feature 20 of the nation’s top college teams, including local schools Penn, Temple, Delaware, Penn State, St. Joseph’s, and Kutztown. Throughout the 44 matches in two days, the teams will strive for the championship title and the sought-after Pete Dawkins trophy.

Now how can you win your FREE 4-pack of tickets?

Simply leave a comment below and I will pick a winner on ~~Wednesday, May 22nd~~ Tuesday, May 28th via random.org.

Earn additional chances....Leave a comment each time you do the following...

Become a member and follow this blog
"Like" Gunning It on Facebook
Tweet about this giveaway (@GunningIt)
Pin images from this post and spread the word about the giveaway.

FarmHouse Markets CSA

2013-03-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Also known as the Milky Way Farm Crop Share Program...

For our Chester County, PA readers, here is some information on the CSA program located at Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs. We have participated in this program for the last few years (splitting with a friend) and I am anxious to start back up this June. Not only is it healthy picking up our fresh produce and fruit, but going to the farm provides a unique experience for the kids. Each week we split our share and meet up with friends to walk around the farm and visit their animals. The farm is complete with dairy cows, chickens, pigs, ducks, sheep, and a favorite...kitties. Not only do the kids love running around to visit with the farm animals, but they appreciate the chance to be outdoors and have some good old-fashioned fun (without technology). But your stop is not complete without a visit to the Creamery for some ice cream. Milky Way offers an extensive menu of premium homemade ice cream flavors so you can enjoy a cone, sundae or milkshake. (Tip: Sign up with their frequent visitor program, "Mooo Bucks." Earn a free quart of Ice Cream by Making 10 Visits to the Creamery and Spending $2.50 or More Each Visit). MWF also offers fresh eggs, milk, and meat for sale as well, so be sure to check out their website for details.

Now back to the CSA program....here is how it works:

The Co-op brings together a range in local farm produced products grown in our local area. Produce is available for 22 weeks from June to November. The total cost is $430 for 2013, which compared to other CSA programs in the area, is a great deal.

Weekly pick-up times: Members pick-up their freshly harvested produce once a week at the farm.

Two pick-up options are available:
Wednesday, 3:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, 3:00pm-8:00pm

Co-op Produce Includes:

Apples
Brussel Sprouts
Broccoli
Beans
Beets
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Eggplants
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Peaches
Peppers
Potatoes
Plums
Pumpkins
Radish
Spinach
Summer Squash
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Turnips
Water Melon
Zucchini

So how does this CSA compare to your program?

Walt Disney World Tips, Part II

2013-03-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

So today we are finally posting Part 2 of our Walt Disney World Tips

(You can find our Tips, Part 1 here if you missed our initial posting).

1. Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World for the first or second time? There is so much to learn about booking a trip in Disney so have someone book it for you! Fortunately my friend works for Disney booking trips. She is FREE to you and earns commission on her bookings through Disney. She knows the parks like the back of her hand. She will give you so much info., advice, and special deals as soon as they are made available. So check her out on Facebook now to get started...Be Our Guest Vacations. (And for another great tip and review site, visit www.disneyed.com).

2. Thinking about renting vs. bringing a stroller? We rented a stroller from Kingdom Strollers and it was by far, worth the money! They will drop off your stroller to the resort (such a pain to travel with strollers) and will then pick it up when you leave from your hotel/resort. You are also able to choose your stroller whereas some of the other rental companies do not give you a choice. We wanted the City Elite double so it could hold Nick and Anna's combined weight. They used it all the time...it provided shade for the kids, was roomy enough for them to nap, and when the park was crowded we had them hang in the stroller to keep from getting lost in the sea of people. Definitely some of the best spent money on our Disney trip!

3. We highly recommend adding the Disney mobile app to your smart phone before going to the parks. It worked out really well and I preferred it to the other paid apps you can download. I also used the crowd calculators to determine our park "itinerary" from day-to-day. We also started the days by grabbing our fast pass for popular rides and then used the Disney app to calculate wait times at nearby rides while waiting for our fastpass time.

4. Hollywood Studios: We did not have breakfast scheduled at this park (if you read Part 1 you will know that we are big fans of scheduling the character meals in the mornings for breakfast). At Hollywood Studios we definitely wanted to make sure Nick was signed up for the Jedi Training. We also wanted to grab a Toy Story Mania fast pass right away as this is an extremely popular ride. So our plan...we arrived at the park a 1/2 hour before it opened (sometimes they will open the gates a little early, which they did on our day at HS). As soon as we entered we split up: 2 of us ran to Jedi Training (make sure to take your child that is signing up with you - they have to be there in order to register) and the rest of us ran straight to Toy Story Mania to grab our Fast passes for the family later in the day. You could probably hop on and ride while your are there too if it's a short wait, but I wanted to wait for the whole family.

Another tip for Hollywood Studios, we recommend visiting this park the "3rd day" into your trip since there are a variety of shows. We found the shows to be a good way to relax from all the hustle and bustle at previous parks.

And finally, we highly recommend the Fantasmic! Package at Hollywood Studios. We saved sit-down meal for this package deal. When you book this lunch or dinner package you will receive VIP tickets to sit up front for the show. No waiting in line (and the lines were LONG). The night time show itself was fantastic as promised and probably our favorite of all the shows in WDW. The kids will see all of the popular Disney characters at this show!

5. We really loved Epcot. Since we are a "travel family" it was the perfect park for us. Our tip, purchase the Epcot Passport book for the kids (found in world gift shops). It made the perfect souvenir while being educational. As you explore the countries the kids can have their books (which really look like real passports) stamped by the country and have "hello" or their name written inside in the countries language. The kids really looked forward to each country and it made the learning experience fun. In addition to the passports, each world showcase country offers "Kidcot stations." While we were there, the kids were given (yes it's free) a picture of Duffy bear on a stick so it can be handled like a puppet. The kids can have this stamped by the countries as well as decorate it at the stations. Great for smaller kids in my opinion.

Another great game for the older kids (which we didn't know about until it was too late) is the Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. The kids can "become a secret agent and go undercover on this interactive quest around the world showcase." My son probably would have loved this...maybe next time!

And finally our last Epcot tip, (my one regret)....I hear the fireworks at Epcot are awesome, however we were all so exhausted (remember we had an early breakfast at the Royal Banquet Hall) we just decided to go back to the resort and get some sleep. If you do stay (or return later after a nap which we should have done) for the fireworks, my friend offered great advice: Watch the fireworks on the bridge by Paris for the best viewing spot. And don't forget to grab a glass of champagne from Paris! FYI, You can watch Epcot fireworks from some nearby resorts (we stayed at the Caribbean and fireworks can be seen from their main pool).

So there you have it. Our basic Disney tips for Walt Disney World Part II. Do not forget to read about our experience and Part 1. Hope this helps with your trip. We would love for you to add your tips...

Harlem Globetrotters Review

2013-03-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Did you attend the Harlem Globetrotters? Our family went and had a blast! Both Nick and Anna really enjoyed the humor and talent of the HG throughout the evening. Here are some pictures from our experience....

Harlem Globetrotters' winner and discount code...

2013-02-28T09:37:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Lori Z. the winner of our Harlem Globetrotter giveaway!

Have a fabulous time & make sure to share your experience with us on Facebook.

For those of you that did not win this time, you can still purchase tickets for $7 off.

Click on this link and use password HGMOM to save $7 off your tickets!

(And stay tuned for our next giveaway...Chesapeake Ribbons' Gift Certificate).

The Harlem Globetrotters in Philadelphia

2013-02-22T09:35:00.001-05:00

As we are coming to the end of Nick's basketball season in the Gunn house, we are very excited for the Harlem Globetrotters coming to Philly. This will make a great family night for all to enjoy. And for the first time ever, fans will decide the rules for the game that could affect the final outcome. Possible rule changes could include playing with two basketballs at once or getting double the points for each basket made.

"Known as innovators of the game of basketball for decades, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are once again introducing something unparalleled in the history of sports and family entertainment, when they visit the Greater Philadelphia Region for four games, including at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday March 9 at 1 p.m. the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, NJ, on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and at the Liacouras Center on the Temple University campus on Sunday, March 10 at 5 p.m."

And once again, we have ~~two sets~~ one set of four ticket vouchers to give away!
To enter the giveaway and win your free ticket vouchers, simply leave a comment below with your email address. Giveaway closes on Wednesday, February 27th at 11 pm (ET). We will email our winners and then post here and on Facebook.

And as always, you can earn extra chances:

1. Follow our page Gunning It on Facebook then come back here and leave a comment letting us know you followed.

2. Follow us on Twitter: @GunningIt, then come back here to leave a comment.

3. Tweet about our giveaway and include @GunningIt for an entry, then come back to leave a comment. (Daily tweets are allowed but make sure to leave a comment here letting us know).

GOOD LUCK!

To purchase discounted tickets, click on this link and use password HGMOM to save $7 off tickets!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus " Built to Amaze"

2013-02-15T09:13:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday night we were fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to attend the circus in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. This year's theme was "Built to Amaze" which incorporated a construction theme, perfect for little boys.

Here are some pictures of the "greatest show on earth..."

Anna's Picks:

As always Anna loved the entire show but especially the animal acts such as the ponies. One pony decided to make a run from it which had everyone laughing.
Box of circus popcorn.

Nick's Picks:

Nick enjoyed the tigers and the human cannon ball acts.
And of course, getting his picture with the Chick Fil A cow and Flyer's hockey player.

TIP: If you keep your circus ticket stub, you can turn it in at Chick Fil A for a free 8-pack of chicken nuggets!

And once again, if you would like to purchase discounted tickets ($15) visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available! The show is here through the weekend.

Did you attend the show yet? What was your favorite part of the circus?

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus ticket giveaway:

2013-02-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

Our giveaway for two sets of FOUR ticket vouchers begins today!

Ticket vouchers can be exchanged for one reserved seat ticket at the box office & can only be redeemed for weekday performances, except Friday night).

So how do you enter to win tickets? Simply leave a comment below by February 9th and you will be entered.

Earn extra chances by:

1. Follow our page Gunning It on Facebook then come back here and leave a comment letting us know you followed.

2. Follow us on Twitter: @GunningIt, then come back here to leave a comment.

3. Tweet about our giveaway and include @GunningIt for an entry, then come back to leave a comment. (Daily tweets are allowed but make sure to leave a comment here letting us know).

And remember, if you would like to purchase discounted tickets ($15) hurry up and visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available!

The circus is almost here!

2013-02-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

There is nothing like experiencing the excitement of the circus as a family. When I hear the circus is coming to town I immediately think...Cotton candy, popcorn and "light-up" snow cone drinks, tigers, elephants and motorcycles in the metal ball. Our family is super excited to attend this year's circus on opening night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia thanks to Comcast-Spectacor/Feld Entertainment.

We have also been given the opportunity once again to give away two sets of 4 FREE ticket vouchers for your family to attend the Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus "Built to Amaze" show. Our giveaway will be posted this weekend...be sure to follow us here and on Facebook so you do not miss out on how to enter. (Please note these complimentary vouchers can be exchanged for one reserved seat ticket at the box office AND can only be redeemed for weekday performances, except Friday night).

The circus will be in town starting February 13th and will run through February 17th. If you would like to purchase discounted tickets hurry up and visit this link and enter code: MOM for the best seats available!

Link to purchase $15 tickets: http://ev15.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/EVExecMacro?linkID=global-wachovia&evm=prmo&RSRC=gunningit&RDAT=Mblog

How cute are these Shetland ponies in their Scottish cardigans?

2013-01-25T17:07:00.002-05:00

Source: visitscotland.tumblr.com via Margie on Pinterest

A New Addition to the Gunn Clan

2013-01-23T13:43:00.002-05:00

Gunning It has been a little quiet the last couple of weeks but for good reason...we were welcoming a new member of the Gunn Clan! William (Liam) John Gunn was born on January 8^th at 3:04 pm. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. Our post on the Sandy Hook tragedy tried to explain the unexplainable. In it, we stated the belief that there is good and evil in this world and the murder of innocence in Newtown was the personification of evil. Fortunately for all of us, there is far greater good in the world than evil. Good is around us all the time. We may not stop long enough to witness it or fully appreciate it but it is envelops us. Some life experiences are so powerful, so intense and so purely good that we can't help but recognize it. The birth of a child is one of those experiences.

We are so absolutely fortunate to have experienced birth with great regularity. We experienced it with our son Nicholas, then our daughter Anna and now with Liam. We've experienced it fourteen other times as an Aunt and Uncle. Though we may have experienced it often, we don't take it for granted. The birth of a child is all that is right with the world. It is a magical, emotional event that brings some of the best of humanity to the forefront. Personal sacrifice, unconditional love, joy, family, generosity...it's all part of the experience. Gunning It is all about promoting the merits of an 'Experience Based Lifestyle' and showing how travel and other experiences bring a family closer together. Experiencing the birth of a new family member is the ultimate family experience.

Our experience started in the Spring when Margie surprised me with a wrapped present after one of Nicholas' baseball games. It was a watch box with a positive pregnancy test inside. The look on Nicholas and Anna's face when we said that we're having a baby was a couple of big smiles that will stay with me until the end. It continued over the Summer as we all heard the heartbeat in utero and started talking about whether the baby was a boy or a girl. By the Fall we started our nesting and Anna moved out of the nursery into her “big girl” bedroom. Christmas was especially memorable because of the added anticipation of our new arrival. Finally, the big day arrived. In our family, the birth of a child is a family event. Margie's Mom was in the delivery room with us and Nicholas, Anna and my Dad arrived shortly after Liam's birth. Before too long, my sister Maureen, her husband and three children visited. My sister Mary visited with my niece Erin. Calls, texts and Facebook messages poured in. The steady stream of visitors continued into the next day as Margie's friends visited and my sister Donna and niece Meggan visited. Anna and Nicholas arrived after school and set up camp in the hospital room as if it were our family room.

The birth experience wasn't all about the the hospital room though...with Margie in the hospital, her Mom, my Dad and I juggled the day to day home routine. My Dad got to experience Anna's stubbornness over lunch at Chick-Fil-A (she absolutely refused to go into the Men's bathroom to go to the bathroom!)...I picked Anna up from preschool and saw the proud smile on her face as she skipped out the door at 11 am each day...Nicholas was big man in second grade for a couple days as he was excused early from school and got all the extra attention from his teacher and classmates about the birth of his baby brother. One night as I was putting Anna to bed I asked if she wanted to do something after school the next day. She didn't hesitate and told me that she wanted to go to a “fancy restaurant”, get all dressed up and wanted me to get dressed up too. How could a Dad say no to that? We went to lunch at the Ship Inn the next day and had a great discussion about preschool, Irish dancing and why people put butter on rolls. The next day I offered to take Nicholas to lunch and take him anywhere he wanted. His choice? McDonalds...he said he doesn't get to go very often and just really wanted a cheeseburger. We talked about his basketball team, why soda isn't good for your body and about the 'round the world trip that our family is planning (not for another 5 years though!). I'll never forget how mature Anna looked as she sat across from me at the Ship Inn or Nicholas spinning around on his stool occasionally cracking his trademark smile.

Liam's birth was about welcoming Liam to the Gunn clan but it was about much more. It was a celebration of family, friendship and love. It was about many family members and friends coming together to help us celebrate. It was about taking a pause from our busy lives to spend extra quality 1:1 time together. It was all that is good in this world. It was the ultimate family experience.

City of Lights II: Philadelphia

2012-12-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

The month of December conjures up images of religious holidays and the secular traditions that have developed around them. Baby Jesus laying in the manger...the menorah...Santa Claus... Christmas trees. These images are synonymous with the holiday season and invoke a broad array of memories and emotions. The backdrop for many of these images is darkness. December days are filled with darkness. It greets us as we wake. It lingers as we prepare for our day. The sun arrives fashionably late and its light remains outside the direct sight lines for many who labor indoors. By the time our labor concludes for the day, darkness greets us again at the door. Darkness cloaks our days and we yearn for sunlight. The more we yearn, the stingier it feels like nature becomes.

Fortunately, the holidays also emphasize light. As the days become darker, we showcase light. Candles...Exterior lights for the house...string lights for the trees. Artificial lights surround us. Joyfully and thankfully, it surrounds us. There is no better source of artificial light than a city and we are fortunate to be within a short driving distance of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is always a great place to visit but it is especially magical in December. The glow of Reading TerminalMarket...the splendor of Macy's light show...the Old World feel of the Christmas Village...the bright lights of Boathouse row. The bright lights of the big city are a welcome contrast to the darkness of December. Children are rarely at a loss for words during the holidays but a trip to the city can leave them humbled and speechless.

We started our visit by parking under Love Park and the Christmas Village. After a short stroll through the village, we encountered a plaza directly across from City Hall that had large board game art and amazing views of City Hall. From there, we made the short walk over to Reading Terminal Market for dinner and people watching.

Reading TerminalMarket is a Gunning It favorite and is the physical embodiment of our philosophy. There is so much culture and variety and it offers a unique experience with each and every visit. After dinner and playtime with their cousins, we meandered towards Market street and made our way to Macy's to walk through Dickens village and see thelight show. After the light show, we mailed our letters to the North Pole and walked through City Hall back to Christmas Village. We were greeted at each and every turn by light. It wasn't sunlight but it had a similar energizing effect. If Paris is the City of Lights then Philadelphia is the City of Lights II. Thank you Benjamin Franklin!!

Gunning It Tips include:

Reading Terminal Market closes at 6pm and some vendors stop serving certain foods at 5pm so get there by 430 if you want a full menu of options! (Closed New Year's Day)
Many of the garages offer a discounted parking rate if you get your ticket validated by a Reading Terminal Market vendor
By George Pizza, Pasta and Cheese steaks makes an awesome cheese steak!
Stroll through City Hall and admire the architecture.

Nick and Anna's Picks:

The “Board Game” plaza
Playing tag with their cousins as they walked through City Hall

If you have not made it into the city to experience the Macy's Light Show and Dickens Village, there is still time. Both are open today and tomorrow with light shows on the hour every hour. For details, click here.

What are your favorite Holiday tradition in the city?

Disney on Ice "Rockin' Ever After" review:

2012-12-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

Our family had a blast last night at the Disney on Ice performance at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly. Compared to previous shows I think this was our favorite yet. Perfect length (about two hours including intermission) for small children and captivating choreography. The show highlighted four favorite stories: The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Brave, and Beauty & the Beast. Here are some photos to give you a sneak peek...remember the show just started and runs through January 6th.

Anna obviously loved the show and was mesmerized by the performance the entire time. Perfect length (with intermission) for a four year old.

Nick on the other hand, seemed to like the show for a seven year old...but would never admit it. He did watch the entire 'Brave' performance and was interested in "the skating" since he is an ice hockey player. His favorite part though...enjoying ice cream during intermission.

If you still have not purchased your tickets to one of the many shows, there is still time. We have a discount coupon code to buy tickets for just $15. All you need to do is click on this link and enter password "MOM" for your $15 tickets.

Enjoy and let us know what you think of show.

Philly's Disney On Ice "Rockin' Ever After"...

2012-12-27T16:16:00.002-05:00

It's finally here! The Disney on Ice "Rockin' Ever After" show opens tonight at the Wells Fargo Center and runs thru January 6th. Our family will be attending tonight's premiere so be sure to come back for our review on the performance.

If you would like to purchase tickets to one of the many shows, use our discount coupon code to buy tickets for just $15. All you need to do is click on this link and enter password "MOM" for your $15 tickets.

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" by Barenaked Ladies featuring Sarah McLachlan

2012-12-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

My Pledge to the People of Sandy Hook

2012-12-17T22:32:00.000-05:00

Like everyone else, my heart ached when I heard about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The thought of what those innocent, beautiful children witnessed.. the terror that the teachers saw and felt.. the totally and completely unnecessary loss of life.. the images that first responders saw that nobody else had to endure. The only emotion that can match the depth and intensity of my sorrow is the total and unconditional love that I have for my own children. Why did such an awful and tragic event happen? How could such a terrible fate meet so many innocent children and wonderful people? Those questions have gripped much of my thought over the last several days. After much thought, I've concluded the following..

This happened because there is evil in the world. We can all debate the existence of some supreme being, the veracity of organized religion and the role that organized religion should or shouldn't play in society. We cannot debate the unfortunate reality that evil exists. If there was ever any doubt, this tragedy proved it. Children are the personification of good in this world. They love unconditionally, they approach the world with arms wide open and they meet the world each day with a sense of wonder and joy. Children lack prejudice or pretense. They don't know hate. They don't know mean. They know good and nothing else until they are taught otherwise.

Spoiling that innocence is wrong. Stealing that innocence is criminal. Murdering that innocence is absolute and complete evil. We were witness to evil at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We unfortunately have also bore witness to evil in numerous cases of child molestation, neglect and abuse. I sense that everyone is as tired of seeing this evil perpetrated as I am.. so what can we do?

First, I think we can take great comfort in another fundamental truth. There is significantly greater good in the world than evil. We see it and experience it every day. We saw it at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Dawn Hochsprung, Victoria Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Anne Marie Murphy, Rachel Davino all sacrificed their lives to save the lives of young children. Many other teachers put their lives at risk to do the same. First responders put their lives at risk and rushed in with one goal in mind.. stop whatever and whoever was taking aim at students and teachers. They did. Swiftly and bravely.. they did. They saved many lives. Each day, there is far, far more good than evil. We need to highlight the good. We need to celebrate the good. As much as we'd like to, we can't get rid of evil. We can't get rid of it but we can marginalize it. We can marginalize it by doing the right thing individually. We can marginalize it by working together to be on the lookout for it and taking action when we suspect it. Individually and collectively, we have a chance to thwart evil. Every single one of these tragedies could have been prevented. In many cases, they could have been prevented by family members of the perpetrators. There were warning signs. There always are. It's not OK to sit idly by while evil plots and plans. It's not OK to enable evil with support.. be it direct or indirect. Evil can't be completely stopped by legislation.. it can't be stopped by the police.. it can't be stopped by prayer alone. Evil can only be stopped by good people, working individually and collectively to do the right thing, highlighting good and marginalizing evil. We need to stop celebrating evil. It may not be our intent, but one of the consequences of our sensationalist media is the glorification of evil. If it bleeds, it leads. If there is lots of blood, it leads for a long time. Sadly, for some, the allure of mass media attention (even negative) is more appealing than their current existence of loneliness, ridicule and internal conflict. Rinse. Recycle. Repeat. I've had enough.

To all of the families of Sandy Hook and all those tragically impacted by evil, I offer this following pledge to you. I pledge to you that I will celebrate good over evil, always. I will celebrate the amazing good that your community and people personify. I pledge to you that I will be diligent in my lookout for evil. When I encounter it and wherever I encounter it, I will do everything I can to thwart it. I will teach my children to do the same. I will spread this message as far as I possibly can.

Michael Gunn

Exton, PA

Heavy hearts and continuous prayers for all affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy.

2012-12-17T11:28:00.002-05:00

(Shared from Mary's Miraculous Medal Family)

Elf on the Shelf...Willy

2012-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

When we first heard about the “Elf on the Shelf” I have to confess that my immediate reaction was similar to the first time I saw Christmas decorations in stores around early November...or saw footage of shoppers stampeding each other for discounted TV's, hours after celebrating Thanks for everything they have in their lives. Here we go again – more over-commercialization of Christmas. As a family, we aren't usually early adopters but we're not laggards either. We'll usually jump on a trend after the early adopters pay the early premium prices and the market works out all the bugs and kinks. When it came to Elf on the Shelf though we resisted the trend because we thought it was overly commercial and a bit cheesy. We resisted for a couple Christmas seasons but reluctantly gave in when Nick was five and Anna was two.

Our Elf was named Willy and arrived to a home filled with parental skepticism. Willy was very much on a trial...if the kids weren't interested, Willy would quickly go the way of the foot massager, the hand crank radio and the Gunn family wok. If the kids were interested, we'd stick with it until they lost interest. We're still waiting for them to lose interest. They absolutely loved the tradition and would race down the stairs each morning trying to find out where Willy moved to. He made his way to the top of the tree, the ceiling fan, the cookie jar, the mantle...of course there were nights where Willy was "incredibly tired" and stayed in the same spot as the day before. It didn't matter, the kids were hooked. They love Willy and it has become part of our family's Christmas tradition.

We're not as “creative” as some parents...Willy isn't that mischievous. He doesn't steal things, shave my hair while sleeping or create a mess on our kitchen countertops often. Willy is a regular old 'Elf on the Shelf' and likes moving to new spots every night (well, most nights)...Well until we heard about Elf Outfitters.

Elf Outfitters is a new company conjured up during mommypreneur chats to make "Accessories that will inspire your creativity and bring your Family Elf to life." The line offers six different kits from a Hawaiin Luau kit to a Super Hero kit (one we decided to try first). All kits are shipped for free and only cost $7 - $10. So go on and order your kit now...or stock up for next season. The Super Hero kit we received came complete with a Superhero cape with personalized letter, adhesive masks, and an Elf Ideas inspiration card.

I personally loved the inspiration card that came with the kit. It gives you ideas on how to set-up your elf as well as how to inspire a family activity.

The kids LOVED finding their Elf Willy this morning. Nick couldn't stop cracking up. His reaction...priceless.

Have you purchased an Elf Outfitters Kit? Which one do you love?

Winners for Disney on Ice Rockin' Ever After Giveawy

2012-12-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone that has followed Gunning It. We are ready to announce our winners for the Disney on Ice Rockin' Ever After giveaway.....

The winners are Sandra Telep and Rachee Fagg.

(Please email me - mgunn301(at)verizon(dot)net within 48 hours to claim your 4-pack of ticket vouchers. I will need a mailing address as well).

Congratulations and have an awesome time!

Making Memories at Waterloo Gardens

2012-12-14T08:45:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite quotes is from Dr. Suess: “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”. Like any great quote or lyric, it offers a poignant view that can be broadly interpreted in a variety of impactful ways. For me, this quote says that moments that can seem routine can actually wind up being very special with the realization of how special the moment was revealing itself over time. Lasting memories can be made in a variety of ways and in a variety of places. Often times, memories are made when you least expect it.. like a trip to Waterloo Gardens.

We're fortunate to live close to Waterloo Gardens in Exton, PA.. so close that we pass it on just about every car ride to and from our home. From Whitford Road, it looks like a nice store that sells flowers, trees and other landscaping supplies. It looks quaint, homey and altogether cozy. Its looks are both accurate and deceiving. Waterloo Gardens is quaint and homey but when you get inside it keeps going.. and going.. and going (in a great way). At Christmas time, it is decorated in holiday décor and has the feel of a traditional department store. Waterloo's Santa is so realistic he reaffirms belief of doubting second graders and recalls childhood memories from parents bringing their children for a visit. Santa is perched on his sleigh and takes time to engage in actual discussions with each and every child. The line moves slowly as a result but its worth the wait. When Nick and Anna had their chance to sit with Santa, Nick was very concerned about accurately communicating his number one Christmas wish.. a battery operated motorcross bike. He asked if he could show Santa a picture from my iPhone and I obliged. The visual of Santa holding my iPhone and Nick explaining what the motorcross bike is and why he wanted it so badly will be forever seared into my memory. Nick and Santa had a very serious conversation with Anna watching on intently about the absolute need to wear a helmet each and every time he rides. Nick was nodding furiously and it was very clear that a deal had been struck. If only poor Ralphie had an iPhone, he may have alleviated Santa's concerns about shooting his eye out!

After Santa, we browsed around and looked at many of the different Christmas displays and decorations. Each section had a different theme and had products (both seasonal and non-seasonal) that are unique. If you like finding unique gifts, this is a place you'll love! It was as close to window shopping on a main street as you can get it in Suburbia. Walking around, it felt like a really nice visit to a local store that we bypass with such regularity it fades into the landscape. As the days pass though, many of those moments have become memories that I recall each time I pass Waterloo Gardens and other random times throughout the day. The value of those moments become greater and greater as each day passes. Thank you Dr. Seuss and thank you Waterloo Gardens!!

Gunning It Tips include:

Plan to spend at least an hour – Waterloo Gardens is much bigger than it appears
Bring activities for the children to focus on while they wait in line for Santa (in addition to a conversational Santa, you can take as many pictures as you'd like which tends to slow things down)
If you have toddlers, you may want to bring a stroller (there are lots of breakable items for sales)
Bring some carrots and visit the miniature ponies in the back of the property (just past the Christmas trees).

Nick and Anna's Picks:

Santa.. of course!
Looking at all the different types of Christmas trees
Kid's Corner located by the bathrooms complete with coloring pages, crayons, and play house.

If you have not visited Santa at Waterloo Gardens yet, there is still time. He will be there this Saturday and Sunday (15th & 16th) from 1 - 3 pm. It is FREE to all and make sure to bring your own camera for photos!

Waterloo has fun family events all year long so be sure to view their schedule here. What other events do you love to attend with your family at Waterloo?

"Christmas Lights" by Coldplay

2012-12-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Hanukkah!

2012-12-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

"Hanunkkah Blessings" by Barenaked Ladies

NYC: Love at 9th Sight

2012-12-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's love at first sight, sometimes it's gradual and sometimes it just sparks suddenly after several previous experiences. I've been to New York City (NYC) eight times previously and came away each time feeling disappointed. Most of my visits were work related and involved staying in midtown Manhattan. Each time, I wanted to love it but instead felt overwhelmed by congestion, commercialism and cabs. New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, LA, San Diego...I fell in love with all of them for different reasons but for some reason, just couldn't make the connection with NYC. For me, NYC was like sushi. I would try it every year to see if something changed, but each time would confirm my previous experiences. This year, I had an opportunity to experience NYC differently and the result was dramatic. I fell in love.

Our family typically does light planning and tends to go with the flow on trips. Once we get to our destination, we'll check the weather, discuss what each of us would like to do and formulate a general game plan. We like to explore, wander and experience. For whatever reason, that wasn't working when I visited NYC. Maybe there is just too much to explore, maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind.. whatever the reason, I just wasn't connecting with NYC so I decided to try something different the next time I visited. My nephew lives in Hoboken and my sister Donna was looking to visit him so we decided to team up to take on NYC together with my son Nick and niece Meggan. My sister Kathy and niece Laura were planning to visit NYU so we decided to make it a family event! Margie is 7 and a half months pregnant and Anna had a birthday party so we decided to divide and conquer. We do lots of travel as a family but also like to travel without the kids and with each child because of the quality time and bonding opportunities.

This time, I booked a tour through Viator that combined 5 separate hop on/off bus tours and a harbor cruise. We also chose to stay right outside the city and took the train in from Newark station. We started with the harbor cruise, then walked through mid-town, explored Times Square and did a night bus tour of midtown, southern Manhattan and Brooklyn. The result was a dramatically different experience. Our tour guide was AMAZING. She was a lifelong New Yorker and her love of the city was infectious. She helped guide us through many of the city's neighborhoods and gave us a true appreciation for the city's history, personality and grit. When one guy on the tour took a call on his cell phone, she called him out and told him to hang up and stop being rude to everyone else. When the bus got a peek of the Statue of Liberty, she would yell “Hey Lady!!”.. she was quintessential New York and we loved it. The next day we did more of the same with a guided tour of Central Park and uptown Manhattan, including Harlem. Once again, we were blessed with an amazing tour guide, an African immigrant whose pronunciation of Harlem ('Arlem) is still seared in my memory. His passion for the park and the transformation of Harlem was as infectious as our previous tour guide. We wrapped up the tour back in Times Square where we found a small Irish Pub and grabbed an early dinner.

I'm not sure exactly why I fell in love with NYC this time but I did. It had something to do with the father/son bonding time and the moments it created. I'll never forget Nick leaning over to tell me that he thought the Soviet Army was raising money right outside Penn Station. I explained to him that it was the Salvation Army :) (We were talking about the CIA on the car ride up – not sure that was the best idea but at least he wasn't playing video games). It had something to do with going with my sister Donna and niece Meggan and meeting up with Kathy and Laura. We always have lots of fun together and this time was no different. It had something to do with our amazing tour guides, the picture perfect weather and visiting at the very early stages of the holiday season. However it happened, it happened and I'll be forever grateful. I fell in love with the neighborhoods, the pugnacious spirit, the contrast of urban and rural (Central Park), the opportunity to immerse oneself in so many different cultures in such a compact area. Hey Lady!!! I'll be back soon with the rest of the Gunn clan.. who knows maybe I'll even find a Sushi place and learn to love that too!

Nick and his cousin Meggan's, picks:

Riding the train in and out of the city

Toys R' Us in Times Square

Sitting in the front of the top of the bus on the bus tours

Shopping for souvenirs

What are some of your best tips while visiting NYC with kids?