Traveling? Consider PowerMat and Say Goodbye to Cords: A Giveaway

August 4, 2010 By Candace 109 Comments

As a well seasoned traveler, I can tell you that I have a very specific way that I pack my suitcase. There’s a place for shoes, clothing, hair products and even a special (and large) pocket for all of my chargers! When we head out on vacation we always take along a charger for the Nintendo DS, both my husband and I’s Iphone chargers, the portable DVD charger and living in California, we now have to bring along a charger for our Bluetooth headsets. That’s alot of cords and alot to stuff into your suitcase, which is where PowerMat comes in!

PowerMat Portable Mat
The Powermat Portable Mat is a fold-up charging mat that’s perfect for travel. What’s a charging mat, you ask? Good question. Powermat’s Wireless Charging System offers a clean, simple way to keep all those personal electronic devices charged, without a mess of cables. With the Powermat system, you choose a mat and then choose the receivers to match the devices you want to charge. Each mat includes a Universal Powercube receiver that allows you to charge hundreds of devices. You can also purchase receivers custom designed to fit on your devices, so you never need to remove them to use your device.

Traveling with the Powermat
What makes the Powermat Portable Mat perfect for travel is the ability to fold the mat into a small square and place it in the included carrying case, taking up less room and eliminating cords. It also seems that it’s difficult to find outlets in hotels and when you do find them there’s typically a limited number to work with! A total of 8 tips come with the Powermat including a mini USB, micro USB, Apple, DS Lite, DSi, LG 1, Samsung 2 and Sony PSP. The tips come neatly stored in a very small plastic cube. For completely wireless charging, you must purchase receivers separately. For instance, my Iphone uses a case that has a reciever attached. If you are very attached to your current Iphone case, then I would suggest using the included tips.

Convenient Features
There are many features of the Powermat that make this device convenient, such as when the device makes proper contact with the Powermat, it makes a sound and an indicator light is also visible during charging. The Powermat also has an auto shut-off, so once your device has completed charging, the power is shut off on that device. I like that I can charge multiple devices all at the same time and I think that the Powermat would also come in handy if you had a guest staying at your home and they needed to charge any number of devices!

Buy It!
The Powermat retails for $99.99 and can be purchased online at Powermat.com or find a retailer near you!

Win It!
One Lucky “Deal”ectible Mommies reader will WIN a Powermat of their choosing AND an additional accessory! Simply leave a comment below telling me what you would charge with your Powermat and your entered to Win!

Extra Entries: Please Note that the intial entry must be completed before any extra entries will be counted and you MUST leave separate comments for each extra entry completed!

1. Fan “Deal”ectible Mommies on Facebook

2. Follow “Deal”ectible Mommies on Twitter and tweet the following:

Win a Powermat Wireless Charging Device from @dealectiblemom http://tinyurl.com/2bmavff

3. Subscribe to my feed or emails (located on the right hand sidebar).

4. Comment on any non-giveaway post.

5. Grab my button:

6. Follow this blog (GFC located on the right hand sidebar).

The Boring Stuff: Giveaway will end on August 14th at midnight! Winner will be chosen at random.

Disclaimer: Powermat provided me with the product mentioned above to facilitate my review. My thoughts and opinions continue to remain my own!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews, Travel

Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa: A Relaxing Oasis Just Outside the Park!

July 14, 2010 By Candace 26 Comments

On my recent trip to Disneyland for the grand World of Color Premier, I had the opportunity to stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa! The hotel itself is inspired by the arts and craft era at the turn of the 20th century and holds architectural details that reminded me of the great works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Perhaps it was my admiration for the “turn of the century” inspired architecture or the warm glow of the fireplace burning in the background of the lobby that had me in such awe of what was surrounding me… OR perhaps it was the fact that I was hanging solo in a mom’s wonderland of bliss, surrounded by some of my favorite mom bloggers. Regardless of the reason, anyone would be amazed by the sheer size of the lobby itself and the hotel has the ability to draw you in and in no time you’ll be kicking up your heels with a sweet “end of the day drink”! Oh and Disneyland? Pfff..what’s that? You mean there’s a theme park that lyes just outside these doors? Who would have ever thought!

About Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
A luxury hotel offering breathtaking views of Disney’s Grand Californian and Downtown Disney, allows guests to immerse themselves in a stay they’ll never forget! Featuring 945 guest rooms, including 44 suites, guests will enjoy access to a gym, three pools, relaxing lounges, meeting rooms, multiple dining experiences, along with spa and health club services offered by the on site Mandara Spa & Health Club. The interior design evokes the towering Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, with its darkened wood paneling, oversized fireplace hearth, lofty ceilings and sweeping crossbeams. Chandeliers inspired by California woodlands glow above the vibrant yet rustic hues of the lavish lobby.

The Rooms
Let’s just say there’s alot of them…944 to be exact and that includes 44 luxurious suites that sweep you off your feet and have you feeling like you stepped into a fairytale! My good friend and fellow blogger Silvia and I shared a beautiful 2 queen room featuring 20th century design elements, with bits of Disney portrayed throughout. Our room came equipped with a two-sink vanity area (a feature I loved), a separate bathroom with shower and tub and a lovely patio that overlooked the courtyard. Rooms come in the following configurations: 1 King, 2 Queens or 1 Queen w/bunkbeds. The beds I have to say, were quite comfortable and offered plenty of room for both Silvia and I to move about. A standard room would be a wonderful introduction for a family of 4! Complimentary wireless and wired internet is provided for my your networking pleasure and refrigerators are available upon request. Additonal ammenities include iron/ironing board, hair dryers, robes, cribs, make-up mirrors, in room safe’s and more!

VIP TREATMENT
Staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, not only allows you take advantage of the hotels many amenities, but guests will also receive VIP treatment! Located in the center of downtown Disney, the hotel offers guests a VIP entrance into Disney’s California Adventure park, allowing guests a hassle free way to get inside the park in a matter of seconds! If that’s not enough, hotel guests wil also be given the opportunity to take part in “Magic Mornings”, giving guests early entry to select Disneyland attractions!

Hotel Services
The hotel offers far too many hotel services to list in just one post, however I do want to point out a few of my favorites:

- Pinocchio’s Workshop – Exclusively offered to hotel guests, Pinocchio’s Workshop is a licensed care facility providing on-site care services for children 5-12 years old, from 5 to midnight! There is an additional fee for this service.

- Story Time – It’s easy to forget where you are once you step inside the hotel, however it’s important to remember that most hotel guests are traveling with families! Story time is offered in the lobby at 5:30 and 7:30, for the young or….not so young guests (yes I enjoy story time too)!

- Daily Newspaper Delivery – I HEART my paper and coffee in the morning and I have a feeling that many of you do too!

- Around the Clock Room Service – Yes this is a big perk for me…I like my midnight snack!

- Built with Families in Mind – Family friendly rooms with bunk beds are available upon requests and for those traveling with a large family, sleeping bags with floor pads are also available!

- Laundry Room – parents, need I say more? Laundry and Dry Cleaning services are also available upon request.

- Complimentary Self Parking – this is a wonderful feature for families traveling on a budget as so many hotels and resorts charge fees of up to $20 a night for self parking! Valet parkig is also available.

A stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will have you quickly immersed in a time period that is all but lost, until you visit the resort. The members of the staff were professional, kind and very friendly, a feature that seems often unlikely these days! Whether we had a question, a suggestion or just wanted to know general information, the staff at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa were quickly at our service and eager to help. Whether your traveling for work or traveling with family in tow, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a luxury option while visiting Anaheim or the Disneyland theme parks!

Save 40% on Your Stay
For a limited time guests can enjoy 40% off standard room rates starting at just $213 per night! In order to qualify to receive the 40% discount, guests must stay two (2) consecutive nights or longer. Offer valid for arrivals May 1, 2010 through September 29, 2010 when booked between March 16, 2010 and September 1, 2010.

Disclaimer: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa provided me with a one night stayto facilitate my review. My thoughts and opinions remain my own!

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel

Legoland’s New Water Park: Well Thought Out & Executed!

July 6, 2010 By Candace 16 Comments

On our recent tour of Southern California theme parks, we decided to spend a day at Legoland’s new Water Park! As parents of two wee ones, we have been long time fans of Legoland, as the park was built with small children in mind. Nearly every attraction at Legoland California is suited for children under the age of 12, with a large majority of rides focusing on toddlers. From Legoland’s “Dig those Dinos” attraction, where children of all ages can uncover the remains of what once roamed the earth, to “Duplo’s Playtown”, a town filled with multiple colorful buildings, slides and even a train, Legoland offers a variety of activities with no height requirement! So naturally, as I followed Legoland’s construction of the new Water Park, we were excited to visit Legoland’s newest attraction long before it made it’s debut!

Safety
Access to the Legoland Water Park is through the Legoland park itself. A short jaunt to the left of the entrance will have you there in no time and if you have toddlers in tow, you can play to stop at a few rides along the way! Once inside the park it’s immediately apparent that safety is the first and foremost thought on everyone’s mind. I was truly amazed at the amount of lifeguards throughout the Water Park and these lifeguards are focused on the job at hand. I did not once see lifeguards chatting amongst each other. They were watching children from all angles to ensure safety throughout the park. Impressive? We think so!

Life Jackets For All
Another well thought out and executed safety feature is the multiple large racks of complimentary life jackets. Now I would imagine that many Water parks offer life jackets, however Legoland took it a step further and offers toddler life jackets as well! What do I mean by toddler life jackets? Well there’s a strap that runs through their leg’s to ensure that the life jacket stays in place at all times and a large ring around the back of the child’s neck. Two separate racks are filled with each type of life jackets and make it easy for both parents and children to stay safe while at the Water Park! Best of all, there’s no rental fees! Life jackets are Free to use while in the park!

Now For Some Fun
The attractions within the Water Parks walls are bright, colorful, and fun for the entire family. The centerpiece of the Water Park is a 45 foot tall tower designed to immerse families in the world of Lego! You’ll find plenty of friends throughout the park as well, with 20 Lego inspired friends that splash and spray water on guests.

Beaches? Lil’ Pea was thrilled to see two separate sand filled beaches equipped with lounge chairs and palm trees! She spent the majority of her time at the Water Park digging in the sand with dad, while Big Pea, grandma and I set out for some waterslide fun!

Waterslides in All Sizes
The Water Park offers two seperate areas of play: One for the smaller sect and one for slightly older children and adults. The Duplo Splash Safari area offers a shallow wading area with multiple Lego themed animals that spray water and teeny tiny water slides, as well as a small lazy river where tots can ride on a raft with parents right beside them! The other side of the Water Park offers three waterslides including “Orange Rush”, “Splash Out” and “Twin Chasers”! Orange Rush is a family tube waterslide where up to 4 family members can ride a large family raft together! Splash out is an open body slide that allows guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below and Twin Chasers offers a double waterslide where you can race to the bottom with a friend or family member and stretches 130 feet long! Remember to plug your nose!

Build-a-raft River
This was certainly Big Pea’s favorite ride and I admit it was mine too! The Build-a-raft River allows guests an opportunity to customize their own rafts with soft Lego bricks before floating down a twisty river with Lego friends squirting you along the way! We had many trips along the Build-a-raft river and I bet you can guess why it was mom’s favorite activity!

Oh and if you didn’ t believe me about the amount of Lifeguards just check this out!

That’s Five..count em’..FIVE Lifeguards in the small wading area! Bravo Legoland!

Private Cabanas
I want to point out the Private Cabanas that are available for rent throughout the Water Park! There are a total of 11 private Cabanas that families can rent for a half or full day! Prices range from $129.99 to $179.99 dependent upon the time of year and up to 6 people can occupy each cabana. Cabana’s come stocked with 10 complimentary Coca-Cola products and 2 complimentary Legoland Water Park towels! Cabanas can be rented online in advance or at guest services inside the Water Park!

Additionally, you’ll find multiple changing rooms, showers, lockers, family restrooms and a very large family dryer where you can pop in a $5 bill and the whole family can jump inside and get dry! What? Oh your getting hungry? Never fear…there’s multiple snack carts throughout the park as well as the Beach Front Grill where families can gather and feast on gourmet burritos, wraps, sandwiches and salads, just to name a few!

The Bottom Line
GO! Legoland really spent some time thinking this out and executed it well! From multiple ways to keep guest safe, to private places to rest and specific activities for everyone in the family, Legoland’s new Water Park delivers! Admission to the park is a $12 upgrade from the standard LegolandCalifornia admission and is included in the price of Water Park Hopper tickets and Resort Hopper tickets.

A big thank you to Legoland for providing us with media passes to facilitate our review! We had a blast and are already planning our next trip!

Filed Under: Random Rants, Reviews, Travel

Traveling with Tots? Marriot Has You Covered: A Giveaway

June 22, 2010 By Candace 33 Comments

Oh the adventures of traveling with tots! As a family who takes every opportunity to travel, we have plenty of experience traveling with tots and I can tell you from experience that something is always forgotten! I typically type out a list (I know, I’m so fancy) and scratch off the items as I go, however it’s the smallest details that seem to be forgotten such as outlet covers when staying at hotels. I bet you didn’t think of that either, did you? Little hands can place their fingers in hotel outlets just as easily as they do at home, which is why Marriot has recently partnered with Amy Feldman & Allison Costa, of COVERPLAY (see Flickr photos of these two fabulous ladies HERE) to launch the “Tots Travel Too” Program!

Marriot Tots Travel Too Program
If your a parent traveling with small children, Marriot has you covered, quite literally. This new program is designed to make traveling with tots easier on parents by providing guests, upon request, with a travel crib and laundered COVERPLAY removable crib slipcover to ensure their “traveler-in-training” can rest comfortably! A complimentary gift also comes with the COVERPLAY, an animal squirtie toy, because bath time is just too fun to pass up! Additionally, if parents forget to pack their tiny tots essentials, guests can simply contact the front desk and receive complimentary items, including outlet covers, nightlights, baby shampoo, and baby lotion. Disposable bibs will also be available in the breakfast areas!

This exclusive slip cover developed by COVERPLAY will be featured at more than 2,500 hotels across the U.S. and Canada, including, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels, as well as available for purchase on www.shopmarriott.com. To learn more about Coverplay and the two fun women behind the company, y9u can play out their real life drama by visiting their Tots Travel Too channel on Youtube.

I don’t know about you, but I cannot tell you the countless times I have forgotten an essential items such as baby shampoo, and had to send my husband out to find a local drugstore. It’s inconvenient and it takes away from the traveling experience…a parenting “time out” if you will. With Marriots new program, parents everywhere can relax and enjoy their family vacation time without those dreaded “time out’s”! To learn more about the Tots Travel Too program, simply visit www.marriott.com/totstravel2.

Twitter Party
Join the upcoming Twitter Party on July 1st from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET where tips from The Motherhood circle will be shared, the Tots Travel Too program will be discussed, and over $2,000 in prizes will be awarded to participants.

Win It!

One lucky “Deal”ectible Mommies reader will WIN a Tots Travel Too Gift Pack (ARV $78) that includes the following:

- Play Yard crib slipcover/liner AND matching fitted sheet by CoverPlay in a sophisticated, Marriott-exclusive polka dot pattern.

- Bibs to Go Book by Dwell, a waterproof pad of 20 full-color illustrations, each of which tears off to become a disposable bib.

- A set of 8 Animal Party Tub Squirties by ElegantBaby

Simply leave a comment with your best tip for traveling with tots/children and your entered to win! I will choose the winner based on what I believe to be the BEST tip, so get creative and give me all you got! If you are a blogger, please remember to leave your blog url, so that you can be acknowledged as a winner and your blog name can be included in the press release!

The Boring Stuff: Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only! Contest ends on Sunday, June 27 at midnight, so get those tips in now!

Disclaimer: I am working in partnership with Marriott and Global Influence – a Resourceful Mommy Media network – to cover the Marriott Tots Travel Too program and have received a stipend. My thoughts and opinions remain my own!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews, Travel

Disney’s World of Color: Find the Best Seat & Score a Sweet Deal!

June 15, 2010 By Candace 3 Comments

In an earlier post I shared a tid bit of Disney’s World of Color Premiere and the star studded “blue“ carpet that preceded the show! The show itself is truly stunning, an artistic display of Disney’s best moments, past and present. The 26 minute show boasts an amazing 1200 powerful and programmable fountains that shoot water 200 feet high, 36 fire cannons, 79, 241 musical notes, more than 100,00 images and the the accompanying soundtrack features 100+ musicians and a choir of 100+ voices! How’s that for a mouthful?

The show itself combines the creativity of Disney’s amazing Imagineers and has set out to inspire a colorful and animated change to Disney’s California Adventure Park! The show is moving, inspiring, stunning and takes beauty to a whole new level.

In this post I want to highlight how you can score the BEST seat for the show and some special savings for both Southern California residents and non Southern California residents!

Enjoy the Best Seat for the Show

- FastPass tickets are available for World of Color each morning at the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS terminals! Simply insert your park ticket into the terminal and you’ll be given a FASTPASS ticket for reserved viewing at that 3evening’s World of Color! It is important that you grab your FASTPASS tickets early as there is a limited number of FASTPASS tickets available for each show!

- Order a World of Color Picnic Meal that includes a boxed picnic meal and you’ll receive a reserved spot for World of Color! You can purchase picnic meals online at www.disneyland.com or in person at the Sonoma Terrace, Golden Vine Winery. Available meals include the All American, The Taste of Asia, The European Antipasto and the Mediterranean Vegetarian. There’s also options for children ages 3-9 that include The Junior All American, The Lunchbox Classic and the Little Squirts Box.

- Dine and enjoy the show as you enjoy Preferred Viewing at both the newly redesigned Wine Country Trattoria and Ariel’s Grotto restaurants. Reservations are Recommended and can be made by calling (714) 781-DINE.

Special Savings for Southern California and Northern Baja Residents

- Disney has recently announced a Summer Pass that is sure to be the hottest deal they have offered to date! Southern California and Northern Baja residents can now purchase a Summer Pass that will allow 3 park visits for just $36! The Summer Pass is good for both Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park (one park per day) within a 45-day period for residents residing in zip codes 90000 through 93599, and 21000 – 22999. For $108, or $36 per visit, guests will enjoy three fun-filled summer days and nights at the Disneyland Resort. For an additional $21, local residents can upgrade their Summer Pass to a Summer Pass Plus, a 3-day Park Hopper ticket that allows guests to visit both parks on the same day. This exclusive offer is available for use June 11 to Aug. 29. Tickets are blocked out from July 2-July 4, 2010, and Aug. 22-Aug. 23, 2010. More information can be found at www.disneyland.com/summer.

Special Savings for ALL travelers

- Through September 1st, all travelers will have the opportunity to save up to 40% off at all three Disneyland Resort hotel properties (a mimimum two night stay is required)!

- Guests looking for a complete package at the Disneyland Resort will be able to receive 5 nights of hotel accommodations at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotel properties and five days of admission for the price of 3! Offer is valid for bookings from 3/16/10 through 9/1/10 and for arrivals from 5/1/10 through 9/26/10 with travel being completed by 10/1/10.

The Disney experience has never been more affordable and now is the time to book your trip! Stay tuned for upcoming posts on Disney’s all new cruise ship, the Disney Dream and highlights from my stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my time in writing this post, however Disney provided me with a free nights stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and admission to the parks. My thoughts and opinions remain my own!

Filed Under: Deals, Reviews, Travel

Disney Premieres “World of Color” at Disney’s California Adventure Park

June 12, 2010 By Candace 10 Comments

Thursday I headed out on a road trip to Anaheim, California to attend the premiere of Disney’s new water/light show: World of Color! I have so much to tell you that it would be nearly impossible to fit into one single post, so this will be a 3 part series, beginning with the the celebrity “blue” carpet!

The event began at 6 pm on Friday as a star studded list of attendees dawned the blue carpet including Jamie Lee Curtis, John Stamos, Terri Hatcher, Vanessa Hudgens, Gena Davis, Peter Facinelli, Bob Iger Jason Segal (I heart him) and many more! Many stopped and talked with all of us and I took some amazing shots…over 600 to be exact.

I felt fortunate to be with an amazing group of bloggers including Lauren from Supermom Central, Caryn from Rockin’ Mama, Glennia from A Silent I, Julie from Angry Julie Monday, Silvia from Mama Latina Tips, Liz from Disneylandia al dia & Thoughts of a Mommy, Linda from Peach Head, Mel at A Dramatic Mommy, Anna from Spanglish Baby , Marsha from Sweatpants Mom and more.

Once the celebs had made their way down the blue carpet, we took our places at Paradise Bay as Disney CEO, Bob Iger introduced the show along with everyone’s favorite mouse! As the 25 minute show began, a world of color came to life right before our eyes as Paradise Bay was transformed into a colorful symphony incorporating water, lights, projected images and even fire!

The show was simply amazing…breathtaking….stunning…I had goosebumps everywhere!. Here’s a video I took on premiere night:

The World of Color Premiere kicks off the beginning of the parks five year expansion and will be followed by The Little Mermaid Attraction in 2011, Cars Land in 2012 and the all new Disney Dream Cruise ship arriving in to Southern California next year!

Disney’s World of Color Premiere is open now! Watch for upcoming posts on how to score the best deals AND the best seat for the show!

Filed Under: Random Rants, Travel

$400 Volkswagon Summer Roadtrip Giveaway

June 10, 2010 By Candace 295 Comments

Summer is just around the corner which means it’s time to round up the kids and head out on a family vacation road trip! We are heading out Saturday morning on a 10 day roadtrip through sunny Southern California and you can bet we’re going to stop at every theme park along the way! When I was a child, we spent plenty of time road-trippin’ throughout California and other nearby states in our motor home and those are memories that will stay with me for a lifetime!

Whether your going across country to a national park or just taking the kids up to the grandparent’s house, half the fun is getting there. And it doesn’t matter where you’re headed; you’re going to want to be comfortable along the way. With 12v power outlets, JoyBox™ Entertainment system, UConnect® Bluetooth® system, roof rack and more the Routan provides comfort and fun for the family. It’s a beauty isn’t it?

But alas, there are times where things don’t go…shall we say… smoothly! I know we have plenty of stories, like the time we drove nearly an hour past our destination for dating and to our surprise we found a Pea Soup Anderson (there are only 2 of these restaurants in California) and ended up having one of the best times of our lives! I’m sure you have your stories too… Did a trip to Disneyland end in a comedy of errors? Did you take a wrong turn in Arizona but end up discovering a great old ghost town? The good, the bad, and the ugly, we wanna hear ‘em!

WIN IT!

One VERY lucky “Deal”ectible Mommies reader will WIN a VW Summer Road Trip Survival Pack with an approximate retail value of $400!

The VW Summer Road Trip Survival Pack includes the following:

- One VW Electric Guitar (not pictured) <——- WOW!

- Two No-spill cups for babies/toddlers

- Travel editions of board games

1. Travel Candyland® game

2. Travel Guess Who® game

- Coloring book w/ color-changeable markers

- Two DVDs of the latest family movies (to be selected by Sponsor) to play in the Routan minivan’s JoyBox™ Entertainment System.

- One Bluetooth headset to use with the Routan minivan’s UConnect® Bluetooth® system.

- One Battery Jumper

- One Fix-A-Flat Tire inflator One AAA® Emergency Preparedness Kit

- One neck pillow (not pictured)

To Enter: Simply leave a comment telling me a funny, heartwarming or disastrous Roadtrip story!

Extra Entries: Please Note that the intial entry must be completed before any extra entries will be counted.

1. Fan “Deal”ectible Mommies on Facebook

2. Follow “Deal”ectible Mommies on Twitter and tweet the following:

Win a $400 VW Summer Roadtrip Prize Pack including an Electric Guitar from @dealectiblemom http://tinyurl.com/2dgse9z

3. Subscribe to my feed or emails (located on the right hand sidebar).

4. Comment on any non-giveaway post.

5. Grab my button:

6. Follow this blog (GFC located on the right hand sidebar).

The Boring Stuff: Prizes are nontransferable and no substitution or cash equivalent is allowed, except in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize of the same approximate retail value. All taxes, costs and expenses not specified herein related to the prize(s) are the sole responsibility of the Winner. If the prize is a gift card, any terms and conditions of the gift card shall apply. This Sweepstakes is valid in the United States only. If you do not live in the United States, do not enter the Sweepstakes. If for any reason the Sweepstakes including, but not limited to, the online portion, does not function as planned, its integrity or feasibility is undermined, or anything compromises the administration, security, fairness, proper conduct or intended play of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual the Sponsor deems responsible, and/or to abbreviate, cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any defect or delay in operation or transmission, communications failure, theft, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries, including any erroneous appearance of qualification for a prize. If the Sponsor, in its discretion, elects to abbreviate the Sweepstakes, the Sponsor reserves the right, but shall have no obligation, to award the prize(s) from among all valid and eligible entries received up to that time. All entries are the property of the Sponsor and are not returnable.

More Boring Stuff: Contest starts now and ends on July 3, 2010 at midnight! Winner will be chosen using random.org.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my time in writing this post…I just like you and so does VW

Filed Under: Giveaways, Travel

Legoland Introduces New Movie: A Clutch Powers 4-D Adventure

April 7, 2010 By Candace 2 Comments

We recently had the opportunity to spend four days in Carlsbad, Ca and hang out at Legoland for 2 days while we were there! Legoland is by far one of our favorite amusement parks and offers numerous rides and activities targeted right our two girls age groups! This was our second trip to Legoland and the first one ended with Big Pea developing a long relationship with Lego’s in general. This park is simply magical for the 3-12 age group and I’m not sure what’s more fun for the parents: watching their kids having so much fun or having as much fun as the kids, themselves!

A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure
If Legoland wasn’t already cool enough, they’ve introduced an all new 4D movie at the park: A Clutch Powers 4D Adventure. Clutch Powers is a new lego character who can accomplish just about anything. When there’s a job to be done or an adventure to be had, you can bet that Clutch Powers will not only be there but he will reign as the best builder and explorer in all the land and of course he couldn’t do it without his faithful friends! It’s an action-packed, 10 minute show that will have you grabbing at the air, literally!

As you walk into the large theater, you are handed a pair of 4D glasses for your totally awesome viewing pleasure and then guests proceed to take their seats. Then…the show begins! But this isn’t just any 4D show, the movie is jam packed with kid-action fun and you find yourself dipping and dodging the objects that fly around in front of you and at you! Legoland has coordinated the movie to include physical features as well, like blowing wind, lights that look simulate fire and snow in the form of a soapy substance that falls down on top of you as you watch. It was SO cool!

Both of my girls were completely enthralled for the entire 10 minutes, which was a welcome scene after we had been running around the park all morning. They allow you to get completely wrapped up in the movie before the physical aspects of the show start to appear, which makes it simply magical and one show you’ll never forget!

A Clutch Powers 4-D Adventure is playing exclusively at Legoland and is located in the Show Place theatre. Running several times daily, there’s plenty of opportunities to jump in on the 4D action packed movie! And of course we couldn’t leave Carlsbad without checking out Legoland’s newest attraction: the Sea Life Aquarium!

Sea Life Aquarium
Just a short time ago, Legoland California and Legoland Arizona introduced the Sea Life Aquarium, which is located right next to the park at the Carlsbad location! We spent quite a few hours within the walls of the Sea Life Aquarium and found deep sea lego divers swimming among the fish as well as designated areas where the girls could climb up and touch many of the creatures that live within the ocean. A close, personal encounter that they would not typically have the opportunity to participate in. There’s plenty of learning opportunities throughout the aquarium and we even had the opportunity to view a feeding…it was so cool!

Grand Pacific Palisades Resort

I have to give a quick mention to the most amazing resort I have ever been to, the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort located directly across the street from Legoland California! Our original plans for a hotel fell through and from the moment I contacted the resort they were more than willing to help us in finding a room and enjoying our stay! In fact the resort was so helpful and so nice, that we ended up staying an extra night because we just didn’t want to leave! The Grand Pacific Palisades resort offers everything you would dream about in a resort including a Karl Strauss Brewery on site (which we ate at 3 nights in a row), a water park (oh yea), basketball courts, rec rooms and the list goes on and on! The resort also looks out upon a HUGE field of wildflowers that goes on for what seems like forever! Our trip was simply amazing and we are already planning our next trip! The staff really made the stay magical and I have never met so many people that were consistently that nice! So a big thankyou to them for making our stay extra magical!

A big thanks to Legoland for allowing us to be a part of the new movie launch and for our wonderful days at the park! We were also surprised by the bag we received at check-in containing the full-feature DVD for our families enjoyment! My girls were thrilled! You can purchase your very own copy of full-feature DVD at Legoland or at Amazon!

Disclaimer: I was provided with free admission to Legoland California to facilitate my review. My thoughts and opinions remain my own!

Filed Under: Random Rants, Reviews, Travel

Top 10 Travel Tips for a Distraction Free Family Vacation!

February 9, 2010 By Candace Leave a Comment

Travel Tips for Moms & Families Reserve Now | Quicksilver | Online Check-in | Pre-pay & Save | Self-Service Kiosk

Today I’m sharing my Top 10 tips to create a distraction free family vacation!

1. Turn off the electronic devices! (I think this is what everyone would expect from a fun filled, distraction free vacation)
2. Turn off those mommy and daddy brains…this is hard to do because we have so much to worry about, but connecting with your family on vacation is the ideal time to leave everything behind.
3. Visit a place that’s kid friendly! If your trying to corral the kiddos and keep them quiet so that you don’t disturb others, this is going to put a big damper on the distraction factor, not to mention stress mom and dad out.
4. Reconnect with old mother nature. Large resorts can be filled with noisy electronics and other noisy gadgets that make reconnecting with your family difficult. Think Green for a quiet, focused vacation.
5. Leave the books at home! Yes, we know you mama’s like to read, but the kids are going to want to soak up the sights and will be tugging at your leg for some one on one bonding, so leave those books at home!
6. Leave the updates to grandma and grandpa out of the equation! Need I say more?
7. Set your budget and stick to it. There’s nothing worse that worrying about money when your trying to have a good time. So set your budget and stick to it!
8. Have a private picnic at meal time. Noisy restaurants don’t really allow for a distraction-free vacation. I know I find myself watching everyone around me and not focusing on those right in front of me!
9. Make sure the housework is done before you go. There’s nothing worse than thinking about all of the work you have to do arouond the house when you get home. Ensure that the laundries done, dishing are put away and the floors are clean, so that when you arrive home you can relax!
10. Make a checklist. Sure you can purchase an item or two if you forget them, but that’s going to hamper your budget and take away from your time. Not to mention you worry the entire time. So make a checklist and check that baby off before you leave the house!

There you have it, my top 10 tips for creating a distraction-free vacation! Some of these may be hard to do, but if you literally unplug from everything, you’ll be able to reconnect with your family and enjoy a worry free vacation!

I’m participating in a fun contest provided by TwitterMoms! You can check it out by clicking HERE!

Filed Under: Random Rants, Travel

How About a State-Cation with Holiday Inn?

September 2, 2009 By Candace Leave a Comment

As a young family with two small children, we like to have fun on a budget! Well more so, we have to have fun on a budget! We are located in a wonderful part of California that separates Southern California from Northern California and we have the opportunity to take a “state-cation” in either region.

What’s a State-cation?

A state-cation is a wonderful opportunity to explore the borders of your own home state while at the same time, saving hundreds, even thousands of dollars in out-of-state vacation expenses! A state-cation allow for countless opportunities for adventure, education and rejuvenation and Holiday Inn wants to be a part of your adventure!

When you stay with Holiday Inn, you’ll experience the changes transforming its hotels world wide including signature bedding with “soft” and “firm” pillows and power showers in the bathroom, just to name a few, all with a more contemporary look and feel. Holiday Inn boasts more than 2,500 locations in the US, offering a fun and easy getaway in every state!

Being dead center between Southern California and Northern California, we often take the opportunity to head down south and experience, Disneyland, Legoland, countless beaches, history and science museums and fishing trips just to name a few. With Northern California, comes the San Francisco Bay region and one of our favorite spots: Fisherman’s Warf! With only a little bit of gas, a fabulous hotel room at Holiday Inn and an open road, the possibilities are really endless! Close enough to home, yet far enough away to feel like a vacation. The Holiday Inn “state-cation” becomes a great opportunity to rediscover your home state and still enjoy a vacation.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Holiday Inn. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Filed Under: Reviews, Travel

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