we know stuff

Captain Hirams Resort The Perfect Weekend Getaway

2019-07-23T12:05:34Z

When I think of vacation my mind immediately goes elaborate. Plane tickets, hotel stays, dining and more. Often we forget about the hidden gems that are a short drive from our home. In South Florida, one of my favorite places to Staycation is Captain Hirams Resort in Sebastian.

Lodging

Named after Sergeant Hiram Collins, a brave World War II solider and uncle of owner Tom Collins, this resort offers island style living right on the water. Containing 86 guest rooms, suite options include; a jacuzzi room/deluxe suite or taking in the turquoise views in the riverfront and marina rooms. Each suite caters to the ability to unwind on your own private balcony with panoramic views of the river. Our family comfortably occupied a pool side mini suite with two queen beds, living room area, private furnished balcony and a kitchenette. Traveling with young children requires us to have random items such as milk for bedtime so I loved the kitchenette addition! I not only enjoyed the coastal decor but our room was clean and very comfortable.

Dining

Captain Hirams offers various options depending on the desired dining. I highly recommend Blackfins Riverfront Grill for the freshest seafood, spectacular views and friendliest staff. My boys devoured conch fritters and fish tacos as I enjoyed a delicious entree. For parents that want to unwind with a cocktail, it’s easy to enjoy since you’re only steps from your room! If a tiki bar vibe is more up your alley, head over the The Sandbar! Kids will be ecstatic to dine in an old ship, listen to live music and have river access to swim. I also highly suggest Scoop Bar to complete your tropical vacation feel with the best handcrafted cocktails.

Adventures / Entertainment

With diverse options, Captain Hirams Resort offers something for everyone! A must do is to cruise with the King! A 45′ Sightseer pontoon boat, The River King will take you on a majestic cruise around the Indian River Lagoon and Sebastian River. The boys were giggling with the captain, who told stories of being a pirate, as we all learned fun facts and historical information about the area. We saw dolphins, manatees, pelicans and a number of different birds.

While staying on the river, I highly suggest heading over the to Adventure Center to customize the perfect day. Guests can paddleboard and kayak. Even the pool area had toys, noodles and pool games available for everyone. This was a huge bonus since I forgot to bring goggles. Big win for the resort for having them in a time of need! Captain Hirams truly thought of everything! For true boaters, full and half day rentals are also available.

Lastly, my absolute favorite aspect of staying at Captain Hirams Resort is the music! Live bands rock the Sandbar stage creating the ultimate vacation experience. After a busy day at the resort, we took showers and changed into our pajamas (well, the kids did) and headed back down to party. Acceptable for all ages, we happened to be there on karaoke night which was hilarious! As a result, the boys had the best time clapping and cheering for all guests who sang their heart out. The combination of the tropical breeze with the island decor transported us to what felt like our own private island.

If a specific genre is probably desired, check out the entertainment section of their website for a list of upcoming performances.

Furthermore, as they state on their website, “At Capt Hirams, we believe vacationing should be the easiest thing you ever do.” and they sure do mean it. For that reason, I have never felt so relaxed and able to create memories with the kids as I did here. With a price that doesn’t break the bank, head over the Sebastian, Florida for your next weekend getaway.

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Hawks Cay Resort Is The Best Luxury Family Resort In The Florida Keys

2019-07-10T14:19:22Z

Hawks Cay Resort Is The Best Luxury Family Resort In The Florida Keys. Located 100 miles south of Miami, Duck Key sits in between the Upper and Middle Keys. In New York, the winters are long, cold, and blustery, which is why so many of us travel over the schools’ February break. We’re suffering from a serious lack of Vitamin D and need to feel the sun-warmed sand between our toes.

So back in February 2017, when my husband got bit by the travel bug, I completely understood. We were stuck in NY in the freezing cold weather while many of his friends and their families were on vacation.

One morning, as he sat at the breakfast table scrolling endlessly through his Facebook feed, he kept commenting about all of the beautiful sunny places that people were visiting. I knew then that a family vacation was in our future. I just didn’t know when or where.

A few weeks later, my husband called me from the office. As soon as I answered the phone, I could tell he was pretty excited about something.

Remember when I told you I wanted to go on vacation?!

Yes…

Well, I went ahead and booked us one! I hope you don’t mind…

As it turns out, my husband booked us a stay at Hawks Cay Resort & Marina in Duck Key. Located 100 miles south of Miami, Duck Key happily sits where the Upper Keys meet the Middle Keys. Or, if you are familiar with the Florida Keys, it’s roughly halfway between Key Largo and Key West.

This was our first trip to the Keys and what we loved most about it was that we were able to get that “Caribbean feel” without ever having to leave the United States. So, when you’re crunched for time, it’s an easily accessible destination, especially for New Yorkers.

Since we had such a thoroughly relaxing vacation at Hawks Cay Resort & Marina, I wanted to give you an idea of what the resort is really like and how it’s best suited for family travel.

Hawks Cay Resort Duck Key

Getting there

If you have a private jet, you’re all set! You can fly directly into Marathon’s private airport, which is just 15 minutes away from Hawk Cay.

But we don’t have our own jet. Waaahhhh! So, we just flew into Fort Lauderdale and drove down through the Keys. You could do the same thing from Miami. It’s an incredibly scenic ride with turquoise waters and white bridges for miles and miles. It’s just stunning and truly worth every minute spent in the rental car with the kiddos!

And, if you prefer flying into Key West – you can do that too and just drive up the Keys instead.

Lodging

Hawks Cay is a family-friendly resort with accommodations ranging from standard resort rooms and suites as well as villas and vacation rentals with fully equipped kitchens. Originally, we had planned to stay within the main resort building. But, when my husband called a Two Bedroom Townhome Villa was available, so we quickly jumped on it.

Any time I can book a room or suite with a kitchen, I’m all over it. Our children get really weird about eating when they travel with us and food is always the last thing on their minds. So, when I have a kitchen, I can prepare their favorite meals and never worry about what I’m going to feed them. And, this kitchen was great! It had everything we needed – oven, stove, fridge, glassware, cookery – and even a dishwasher! Better yet, it was squeaky clean and well appointed with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There’s also a Publix right in Marathon, so we just went grocery shopping whenever we felt like it and then chilled out!

As far as the bedrooms in the townhouse went, they were fine. Each bedroom had its own full bathroom and that was a huge plus for our family of four. They were neat, clean, and tidy, but a little scarce in terms of decor and ambiance. (If you’ve ever stayed at The Beach Club in Disney World, it’s a very similar vibe.)

However, the Master had an amazing upper-level deck overlooking the marina and the view was gorgeous. Sadly, the kids stole the Master right out from under us! That meant we were left with the second bedroom, which just overlooked the parking lot and left much to be desired. But, the kids were so stinking excited about the Master Suite, we simply couldn’t steal it back. My husband and I have a lifetime of being alone together on vacation. But, the kids are only little once and the Master was a huge hit with them!

The townhouse also had a small living room with a television, which came in handy one rainy afternoon. A washer and dryer were also located on the main floor, which was another huge bonus for us. We were able to wash all of our dirty laundry as needed and when we got back to NY, all of the laundry was already done! That never happens!

But to be honest, whenever we were “home” most of our time was spent out on the back porch, which conveniently led down to a grassy area where the kids played frisbee most evenings while I made dinner. Or, they headed off to the marina to watch the manatees and tarpon swim around. (I kid you not – this is how they spent every sunset. Pretty cool, right?)

Pools

There are FIVE pools on the property including a tranquility pool for adults and a pirate ship pool for little kids. The property also has a small, man-made saltwater lagoon that’s perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking.

We spent time most of our time at the Resort Pool as that is located right next to the Saltwater Lagoon. This way our kids could just bounce from one swimming environment to the next. We also did some night swimming one brisk, windy evening. Well, the kids went swimming; my husband and I chilled out by the enormous fire pit with an adult beverage.

What To Do

Whether you want to rent bicycles and tour the island, or hit up a game of mini golf with the kids, or even just go fishing off the docks, there’s always something to do at Hawks Cay. We chose to go on a family Jet Ski tour through the mangroves, but we wish we had more time to take a sunset cruise or go parasailing!

You can also hang with the dolphins at The Dolphin Connection or watch the manatees lounge in the 85-slip marina when the fishing charters come in at the end of the day. There’s also a top-notch spa on site, but I regretfully did not make it there – maybe next time! And, if you’re traveling with kids, take advantage of Camp Hawk, a fun interactive environmental program geared just for kids!

But what it all boils down to is that a trip to Hawks Cay is all about relaxing. It is the complete polar opposite of Disney World.

Where To Eat

Hawks Cay has several restaurants on site to choose from, but since we had our own kitchen, we chose to make dinner most nights. However, we did eat at The Angler & Ale one night and the outdoor view was lovely. There’s a large fire pit on the deck to hang out by and a turfgrass area below – this means the kids can tear around after they’re done eating while you enjoy a glass of wine or an ice cold beer by the fire pit.

Our waiter was also really cool. He was kind enough to suggest the Conch Fritters, which to his amazement, was something we had never eaten before. They were quite tasty, and in my humble opinion, resembled a hush puppy. We also split the Key Wedge Salad, which was spot on. Then I had a Fish Sandwich (Call me boring, but it was delicious!) and he scarfed down a burger. Overall, we had a great meal with some local craft beers and a great view of the marina.

We also spent a lot of time at The Island Time Coffee Bar, which was a great place to grab light snacks like muffins and pastries, and most importantly, coffee. The Dockside Marina was also a convenient spot to pick up anything that you may have forgot to grab at Publix. And, Puglisi’s Pizza saved us when “Pizza Friday” rolled around — they delivered a piping hot pizza to our townhouse!

Insider Notes About Hawks Cay Resort

This vacation was unlike anything we had ever done before. To be honest, we had a lot of adjusting to do when we arrived because it is just so tranquil. However, after the first 24 hours, we settled into a groove and began to appreciate Duck Key for its quiet, calm nature.

Also, even though many things are included in the price of your stay, many other things are not and need to be rented like kayaks, paddleboards, bikes, and fishing poles. Fees are nominal, but they can quickly add up, especially if you’re traveling with multiple kids.

As a Mom, I can honestly say that Hawks Cay Resort & Marina in Duck Key is one of the safest places I have ever traveled to with my kids. I credit a lot of this to the resort staff and management, but I also feel that the layout makes perfect sense for families. There’s just enough room for kids to be kids – and teens to be teens – and adults to be adults, but it’s also just small enough that parents can keep an eye on everyone.

Have you ever been to Hawks Cay Resort & Marina in Duck Key? Did I miss any details? Drop me a line and let me know!

Denine

did you enjoy reading this traveling with kids post? read on for more great adventures:

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How to Make a DIY Pikachu Birdfeeder with Your Kids

2019-06-25T11:48:56Z

This fun pokémon craft is a great activity for Pikachu fans of all ages. This DIY Pikachu birdfeeder can easily be made with a few household items.

Within a blink of an eye my boys are growing up. This means, a lot less snuggles and a lot more video games, big boy movies and adrenaline packed activities. One thing I can always count on is the fact that they love to do crafts with mommy. Probably because they enjoy covering themselves in paint more but in the end, I love that they create their own masterpiece.

Detective Pikachu recently came out in theatres and as Pokémon lovers, we wanted to have our own Pikachu to catch! My kind hearted, oldest boy had the genius idea of making a DIY Pikachu bird feeder so not only can we create memories, but we can also feed all of the birds in our area. With our recent move, our backyard has been filled with doves, cardinals and more!

This bird feeder was not only fun to make, but a great way to entertain kids of all ages during the Summer!

DIY Pikachu Bird Feeder

Materials:

Coffee can
Acrylic paint– yellow, red and black colors
Paintbrushes
Scissors
Ribbon or yarn
Cardboard – for the ears
Googly eyes
Bird seed
Super glue

Directions for Pokemon Craft:

Step 1: Cut the coffee can lid in half. We want to keep the lid so the seed doesn’t dump out, however, cut it enough to allow birds to get in and out.

Step 2: Using the cardboard, cut out two Pikachu ears and a lightning bolt shape for the tail. As a perfectionist it’s difficult for me to let the little ones perform this step, but it’s worth it to see their creation come to life!

Step 3: Paint the entire outside of the can, including lid, and the cardboard ears with the yellow paint. Let dry.

Fun tip: During the drying process, use your imagination to catch Pokémon’s in your own backyard!

Step 4: On the side of the can, glue two Googly eyes in the middle. Use the red paint to create Pikachu’s two cheeks. This is a good time to utilize the black paint for the mouth and tips of the ears.

Step 5: Glue the ears and tail to the top and back of the can.

Step 6: Place the yarn through the can to create a large rope to tie to a tree. Ensure there is enough yarn to hang far enough to be able to add bird seed. Fill with seed and watch for nature to come enjoy!

Looking for more craft inspiration?

how to make an awesome plastic bottle firefly that glows

how to make hilarious painted stick animals with tree branches

minecraft milk container bird feeder

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The Mighty 5 Utah: Tour National Parks With Kids

2019-07-10T14:21:54Z

This Spring, I booked an all-inclusive trip, The Mighty 5 Utah, with Southern Utah Scenic Tours. This exciting 5 day tour took us through several breathtaking parks including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Parks.

The Mighty 5 Utah Tour begins in the quaint town of St. George where you unwind from your flight and prepare to embrace all of the beauty that Utah has to offer. Bringing adventure, history, and sightseeing into one magnificent vacation, The Mighty Five Utah is an inspiring vacation for any family that loves to explore our country’s majestic beauty.

Reasons Why We Loved The Mighty 5 Utah

Exclusivity

As parents and adults, we are very busy and planning a vacation can be stressful. That’s why we were so excited to find out that Southern Utah Scenic Tours would do all of the work for us!

The Mighty 5 Utah tour was perfectly orchestrated and ensured that we would get to see everything Utah has to offer. The all-inclusive package included all transportation, hotels in every city, park passes, and even some dining! And, each tour is capped at 10 people; this was wonderful because it enabled us to get to know our traveling companions and we really did become close by the end of the week.

The crew also liked to surprise us with some special stops along the way that weren’t included on the itinerary. One of my favorite surprises was when we stopped at the Flute Shop Trading Post. We got to go on a special tour to see how Vance makes his Native American-inspired wood flutes. It was really cool! I have to say, these little surprises definitely kept us on the edge of our seats. It was one of those special touches that made each day more magical than the last!

Anyone can do it

As opposed to adventure tours, this specific Scenic Tour can be appreciated by all ages. With the freedom to hike at a comfortable pace, each individual takes on the parks the way they want to. Small children can marvel at the large peaks while older guests take on the flat trails and admire the majestic waterfalls. More adventurous types can even choose to go off the beaten path and experience higher ground.

Even though I did not have any previous climbing experience, I took advantage of every chance to push myself as I traversed across boulders. Each strenuous trail was safe, but difficult! However, they were worth the experience since the views were awe-inspiring!

The Experience

Living in a beach town, I often forget how heavenly the rest of the world is. But, to gaze above hoo doos, plateaus, and mountains as far as the eye can see was truly humbling. Plus, each park was so incredibly different from the one before it, so therefore, the trip never got boring.

And, for parents like myself who enjoy incorporating educational aspects into our family trips, I was happy to see informational stops along many of the trails. Not to mention, each tour guide was extremely knowledgable and always there to answer every question. (We asked A LOT of questions!)

Parks visited include: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Deadhorse Point State Park.

Final Thoughts

I left The Mighty Five Utah with a different perspective on the world, a better appreciation for our environment, and a far more superior respect for each day. It was exhilarating to push our limits and go outside of our comfort zone every single day!

With this in mind, I challenge adults and families who would not necessarily choose a scenic touring vacation like this to consider The Mighty Five Utah for your next vacation. Take a digital detox and take in everything nature has to offer!

Happy travels,

Gina

Want more family travel ideas like The Mighty 5 Utah?

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How To Make A First Aid Box For Your Car

2019-06-25T11:53:58Z

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PeptoInAPill #CollectiveBias This easy tutorial will show you how to make a first aid box for your car. This DIY first aid box is made by recycling a simple plastic box.

Whenever I am faced with a particularly hectic week, I find that being well prepared is half the battle. Splitting my days between work, mom-duties, homework, after-school activities and dinner makes the weekdays pretty exhausting. I find that if I just set a little time aside each night to prepare for the next day things goes much smoother around my home. Filling the coffee machine, prepping lunches and picking out the next days outfits usually result in mornings that go off with out a hitch.

What about the unexpected stuff you don’t think to plan for?

I don’t know about you, but nothing grabs my attention faster than stomach pain and a distinct rumbling in my gut. The last thing I want to deal with in the middle of my day is tummy trouble. Which is why I always keep a fully stocked first aid kit in my car. Whether I am sitting in a meeting, traveling with my family or enjoying a sporting event – I know that I have what I need right in my car.

The first aid box that I keep in my car is pretty straightforward and contains the items I always seem to need when I’m away from home. My kit is packed with adhesive bandages, antibacterial spray, cleansing wipes, ibuprofen and NEW Pepto Diarrhea Liquicaps. Having the ability to quickly address impending diarrhea is pretty important to me. The new Pepto liquicaps are very convenient for stowing away in my first aid kit or my pocketbook. Pepto quickly coats my stomach, kills bacteria to relieve diarrhea and saves me from an embarrassing situation!

Hover over the photo to click through and buy New Pepto Liquicaps!

If you think a first aid kit for your car is a good idea, this quick tutorial will show you how to make a first aid box of your very own!

How To Make A First Aid Box For Your Car

Materials:

plastic box
white chalk paint
2 foam brushes
2 mini popsicle sticks
red acrylic paint
glue gun

Directions:

Step 1: Wash out your plastic box with mild soap and warm water. Allow the box to dry thoroughly. (Mine was a plastic bakery box filled with mini brownies!)
Step 2: Use a foam brush to paint the lid and box white. Allow to completely dry and add a second coat of white chalk paint.
Step 3: Use a different foam brush to paint both of the popsicle sticks red.
Step 4: Using a glue gun to glue the popsicle sticks together in the shape of a cross. Glue the red cross to the lid of the box.
Step 5: Fill with your first aid items and remember to pack it in your car!

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Did you enjoy this How to Make a First Aid Box tutorial? If you did, check out these crafts!

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Wayfair Kids Garden

2019-03-25T16:45:19Z

Whenever my daughter is feeling a bit sassy, she likes to call me, “Demeter,” instead of “Mom.” She’s a huge Percy Jackson / Greek Mythology buff and she thinks it’s amusing that our home is full of green things. I literally shove them into every available nook and cranny I can. Apparently, my loves of all things green has become a “thing” among her friends and they’re often commenting on all of the plants in our home. Whoopsie!

But, it’s all true. I do love plants. And, I have a lot of them. I’m also notorious for growing new plants from baby plants. And, much to my husband’s dismay, I also like to seed start in our windows. Oh, and I have a penchant for using recyclables as pots too. So, it’s fair to say that her nickname for me is quite appropriate.

However, if we’re being totally honest, my kids have some pretty decent green thumbs too. But, I guess they just don’t like to talk about it with their friends. Sadly, gardening isn’t the topic du jour at the lunchtable. (But, it really should be!!!)

Anywho. If you ever popped your head into my kids’ rooms, you would first have a heart attack at the mess. Then, you’d regain your composure and assure me that gargantuan mess was totally typical of middle schoolers. After consoling me, you would then catch sight of their beautiful window gardens and pause. In the silence, your eyes would zoom in on their little colorful worlds and be transported into the weird world of kids gardening.

None of it makes much sense. But that’s not the point. The point is that they put their hands in the soil and planted up something magical. Something that they love to take care of and watch grow. And, something that saddens them when they forget to water it and it dies. Through their little windowsill gardens, they learn about the importance of nurturing and caring for something other than themselves.

It’s not always my cup of tea. I’m not a huge fan of bamboo, but it does grow quickly and thickly – and makes a perfect hiding spot for rhinos. Who knew? I’m also not into cacti – but who can debate the gorgeous beauty of their mason jars? Not me. And as for succulents – I do love them to pieces, but I always manage to kill them! Perhaps, I love them to death.

Once I started encouraging the kids to select their own plants and pots, their interest in gardening spiked faster than anything else I’ve tried over the years. It all comes down to having a sense of control over what grows in their personal spaces and I dig it. So, if you’re looking for a simple way to get your own kids interested in something other than electronics, consider a windowsill garden. Just make sure to keep your opinions to yourself so that their creativity can shine! If they do make one, tag us on Instagram #weknowstuff so we can check it out!

Happy planting,

Denine

Want more kids gardening ideas?

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How to Apply Silver Leaf Easily to Canvas

2019-02-12T20:09:47Z

This simple tutorial will show you how to apply silver leaf easily to canvas. Applying silver leaf is a fun way to enhance your canvas art. this post may contain affiliate links.

Sometimes, finding artwork for your home can seem like an impossible task. Often when you have a specific subject in mind, replicating the vision you have inside your head can be extremely difficult. For me, the onset of winter had me searching high and low for artwork featuring snow covered evergreen trees. I scoured the internet and local shops, but still couldn’t find what I was looking for. I was just about ready to give up when I found Canvas on the Cheap.

Canvas on the Cheap is an online canvas printing company located in Austin, TX. They print and stretch their canvases in-house to deliver high quality prints at incredible prices. I knew if I could find the right photo, all I would have to do was upload it and voila! Custom artwork delivered straight to my doorstep!

I was thrilled when I found the perfect photo on Unsplash by John Westrock. This moody, snow covered evergreen landscape was love at first site for me. I uploaded it to Canvas on the Cheap and had my canvas delivered in days. I wanted to add a little something special to my canvas and decided to silver foil the outer edges. If you are not framing your canvas, applying silver leaf is a fun way to add a little extra sparkle to your canvas print. It was incredibly easy to do and I love the way it looks when I walk in the room!

How to Apply Silver Leaf Easily to Canvas

How to Apply Silver Leaf Easily to Canvas Directions:

Lightly wipe your canvas to remove any dust or debris.
Tape your canvas with painters tape so your adhesive stays on the sides of your canvas.
Apply a thin layer of gilding adhesive to the outside edges of your canvas. Allow to dry for 30 minutes. It should still feel tacky when you touch it.
You can gently pick up the pieces by hand, or use wax paper to maneuver the silver leaf. (I worked in small sections and did not find it difficult to apply to the edges.)
Press the silver foil onto the sides of your canvas. It will stick to the sides when as you release the paper. Continue around the edge of your canvas.
When finished, use a soft brush to brush away the excess silver leaf pieces. (If you notice you missed a few spots, apply the gilding adhesive again, wait 30 minutes and press silver foil to empty spots.)
Apply metal leaf sealer to seal the silver leaf to the canvas.
Allow to dry fully.

Disclosure ~ I received a free canvas from Canvas on the Cheap to conduct this honest review. No other compensation received. All opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. I hope you enjoyed learning my how to apply silver leaf easily to canvas tutorial!

Would you like more DIY ideas like this one? Check out the articles below!

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everglades holiday park is exciting for all

2019-01-28T17:11:33Z

Looking for a family adventure unlike any other? Everglades Holiday Park airboat tours are exciting for all ages!

It is no secret that Florida is known for alligators. Here in Florida, you can find alligators everywhere. They randomly walk across busy intersections and enjoy hanging out in community lakes. For a safe alligator encounter, our family prefers to trust the professionals. Which is why we enjoy taking our boys to Everglades Holiday Park for a unique family outing.

Everglades Holiday Park is located in South Florida. It is home to Animal Planet’s hit television show “Gator Boys”. These brave men risk it all to rescue Florida’s alligators. Their wild rescue missions and animal encounters leave viewers breathless. For an exciting adventure of your own, we highly recommend Everglades Holiday Park. Here are a few tips to make your family’s experience as successful as ours!

Everglades Holiday Park is Exciting for All

Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours:

Airboat Tours are the main attraction at Everglades Holiday Park. The tour guides ensure an entertaining and amusing adventure for the entire family. The tour lasts one hour and gets you up close and personal to some amazingly large gators. We found ourselves laughing at the captain’s jokes while bracing ourselves for exhiliratingly high speeds. My family loved the learning about the history of the Everglades. We were quite surprised to see that the gators are well accustomed to having guests. They rose from the water and spiraled around the boat giving us quite the airboat experience!

Everglades Holiday Park Gator Shows:

The gator shows are a must see! The incredible staff at Holiday Park amused us with interesting information and gator humor straight from the “Gator Pit”. The audience learned tons of fun facts while watching tricks from the trainer, like balancing his head on the gators jaw! Viewed from behind the glass wall, the crowd was able to watch every movement of the gators.

Everglades Holiday Park Animal Encounters:

After the Gator Show stop by their mini zoo where pigs, reptiles and more await to be greeted. My three year old squealed with excitement at each creature! In addition, we also surprised the three kids with a special encounter with “Al”, the baby alligator! The patient and accommodating staff helped us capture the perfect photo to document their meet and greet with Baby Al.

Everglades Holiday Park was a great adventure for our family! Everyone from the tour guides to the gift shop staff were friendly and welcoming. Make sure you check their website for coupons and discounts.

We hope to hear of your stories from your visit! We would love to hear about your alligator encounter at Everglades Holiday Park!

Looking for more Florida Fun? Check out the articles below!

Disclosure ~ I received free tickets to experience Everglades Holiday Park and conduct this honest review. No other compensation received. Although I had an amazing time on our trip, the opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

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6 Items You Need To Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays

2018-11-14T16:36:19Z

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’m happy to say that this year, I’m completely ready for it. But, I wasn’t always like this.

You see, I host Thanksgiving and I used to stress out about it every year. I would conjure up all sorts of potential disasters in my mind like drying out the turkey, making gloppy mashed potatoes, and burning the cookies – but none of it ever happened! And even if it had, I was always surrounded by my family and they wouldn’t care one bit. They would just encourage me to laugh it off and then they would help me salvage the holiday!

But last year, I decided to let go of the stress that usually accompanies hosting a big family holiday and I felt so much better! I only wish I had realized earlier in my life that holidays should be – and can be – simple and enjoyable.

So, this holiday season, Babbleboxx helped me get my home ready for my holiday gatherings. And, I was delighted to see my Babbleboxx filled with so many amazing products that will help me have a stress-free holiday season!

MY BABBLEBOXX GOODIES

ECOVACS DEEBOT 900

The day before Thanksgiving, my sister volunteers to watch my kids so my husband and I can team up together and deep clean the house. Although this isn’t the most exciting way to spend a day off from work – we do have fun. We have a day full of uninterrupted conversation as we sweep, mop, and sanitize every nook and cranny. The only downside to our day is that I know the minute my kids walk through the door, leaves, crumbs, and dirt will be blowing in alongside them. This is why the ECOVACS DEEBOT 900 is a sanity saver for me.

The DEEPBOT 900 is the best robot vacuum for cleaning anytime, anywhere. Through the ECOVACS app you can program a cleaning while you sit on the carpool line, or you can schedule it for daily cleanings for a time that works best for you. I like to program it at night, when everyone is asleep, and not actively making messes! The week of Cyber Monday, the ECOVACS DEEBOT 900 will be $100 off at participating retailers.

Chesapeake Bay Candle

One of my favorite ways to get my home holiday ready is by lighting a few scented candles. I love to settle down at the end of the day by lighting a candle, brewing a cup of chamomile tea, and reading a great book. One of my new favorites is the Pumpkin Latte Small Jar Candle from Chesapeake Bay Candle. This candle has an attractive wood top that complements so many rooms in my house, which makes me think I should pick up a few more! The aroma of praline, pecans, and pumpkin make my home smell delicious! And, I love that they are made in the USA – designed and poured in Maryland!

Brooklinen

Do you often host overnight guests during the holidays? If you do, Brooklinen’s Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle will ensure that your guests feel right at home. When I first felt these classic sheets, I was really tempted to put them on my own bed, instead of in my guest bedroom. They are so smooth and silky — I really need a set for myself. Brooklinen’s sheet sets let you mix and match your linens allowing you the freedom to style your bedroom any way you want. If your linens have seen better days, you can receive $20 off any order of $50 or more using our discount code: weknowstuff20

Sengled Element Color Plus

Before becoming a mom, holiday music used to annoy me. I know I sound like the Grinch, but I just wasn’t ready for jingle bells before Thanksgiving. That all changed for me when I had my daughter right after Thanksgiving. I remember being in the delivery room with Christmas music playing. Everyone was in a happy mood singing along to their holiday favorites. Now, I’m that person streaming holiday music from November to January!

With the Sengled Element Color Plus smart light bulbs, I can choose from 16 million colors of light to achieve the perfect ambiance! My kids love to use the Sengled Pulse app to control how the light from the Sengled Solo Color Plus changes with the beat of their music. This makes impromptu dance parties with their cousins a lot more fun! For Black Friday Sengled is running a special promotion with 25% – 30% off their products!

Smooth Top® Easy Liner® Shelf Liner

Right before the holidays, I make sure I pull out all of my silverware and give everything a good washing. Sadly, I only use my silverware during the holidays or special occasions because my kids have a habit of throwing away my flatware!! Spoons get tossed with their yogurt cups and forks get scraped into the garbage with the remainder of their dinner. I am usually unaware that this has even happened – until I have two spoons left in my drawer! While I’m busy washing and buffing the good stuff, I like to put down fresh shelf liners to keep my drawers nice and clean. Smooth Top® Easy Liner® Shelf Liner is so easy to cut, install and replace – I use them everywhere from my kitchen pantry to the bathroom medicine cabinets! Click here for more great ideas on where you can use non-adhesive liners.

Christmas Central

Even though I love hosting Thanksgiving, I love the weekend that immediately follows it even more. It’s when we pack away our Thanksgiving decorations and turn our home into a Winter Wonderland. I love decorating my home with my family; it really puts everyone in a never-ending holiday mood. One of my new favorite decorations is this frosted mini green Christmas tree from Christmas Central. This mini green pine tree is dusted with “snow” to create a sparkling wintry look and I love how it complements the modern farmhouse look of my home. You can find the perfect size Christmas tree for your home here!

So, now that you’ve heard about my Babbleboxx, what is your favorite way to get your home holiday ready? Do you have any family traditions to make the season special? Let us know in the comments!

The post 6 Items You Need To Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays appeared first on we know stuff.

Dueling Eerie Entryways

2018-10-29T18:37:06Z

Every year, my sister and I make Halloween a festive family affair. Our children are all nearly the same age, so every year since they were born, we trick or treat together! We always make sure the dads leave work early and Grandma helps out with any last minute costume drama. We start the festivities at Denine’s house and make sure we remember to take plenty of pictures on her spooky porch. Each year her family works hard to out do the previous years creepy creation.

This year, my niece and nephew decided to create a skeleton scare fest on their front porch. They picked out a few skeletons from Wayfair and let their imaginations run wild. For some reason, they decided to set up a Horoscope reading of sorts and I have to say it’s pretty cool. Being kids, not everything makes perfect sense, so when they decided that two skeleton “burglars” needed to go up on the roof, my sister just went with it. If you look really close, you can see the deck of fortune teller cards that they’re now holding in their hands. I have to say, they did a really good job this year!

Then we make our way across the road to my neighborhood. We stop off at my house for more pictures on the front porch and allow everyone a quick break. Each year I try my best to rival my sister’s eerie entryway and I always seem to fall short. It’s not for a lack of trying, it’s mostly due to the massive restrictions my children put on me. Scary things still scare them. They don’t feel comfortable walking past zombies crawling out of our front lawn or ducking under giant slide filled spider webs after school. They also don’t like ugly witches or creepy skeletons. I have a lot of things I need to avoid on my list. So each year, I decorate with pumpkins, black cats and the occasional un-ghastly ghost.

It’s always a wild guess as to when the evening will end. Sometimes it’s when they get too cold, sometimes when their feet start to hurt, other times it’s when their bags are ready to burst. The evening ends back at my house where we have snacks and sandwiches waiting for dinner. Do you trick or treat with your family? Do you ever do a sibling decorating show down? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

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