Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® presents Built to Amaze Coming To The Atlanta Area This February #RinglingATL

When I was a little girl my mom got tickets to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when it came to Atlanta. I cannot express how excited I was to see such a huge production for the very first time and I remember it all to this very day. I had such a wonderful time at the show and was so excited to find out they are coming to town this February!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Built to Amaze! at The Arena at Gwinnett Center February 5-9th and at Philips Arena on February 12-17th. This will be the 143rd edition of the Greatest Show on Earth!!!
We will be attending the show at the Philips Arena and my boys cannot stop talking about it. They have never been before and have no idea what to expect. They are going to be delighted to see all of the animal performances, including the comedic routine of Alex and Irena. There will also be clowns, of course, unicyclists, The Tower Tumblers who will soar through the air, launch from trampolines, repel and pass through a three-story translucent tower. It sounds amazing! There will be much more, including a fiery round of basketball with The King Charles Troupe.

After we attend the show, we will definitely write a post and include all of our photos. You know I take a million photos every time we go somewhere, so I hope to get some great shots of all the performances and of the kids having a blast! Now, how do I contain our excitement until the show? Eek!

Would you like to attend this amazing show with your family? 

Visit the Ringling Bros. website for all the information and to purchase tickets. You can save 20% by using the code GASSOUTH

More About The Show
Circus performers from across the globe create the perfect blend of athleticism and bravery, where power meets fearlessness and amazement has no bounds.  Magnificent elephants, ferocious tigers, astonishing acrobats and awe-inspiring aerialists are engineered into one spectacular performance.
Celebrate the tradition TODAY and experience it’s modern flare of twists and turns where excitement and suspense are so intense you’ll be tempted to cover your eyes. 

From the blueprints to the band, the crates to the clowns, the hammer to the high wire, witness the spectacle as we measure out the perfect mix of marvel and majesty in an imagination equation where the impossible comes to life. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®Presents Built To Amaze!

You can also follow via Facebook and follow via Twitter to keep up with all the latest information.

Fun Time At Braves Night With Aflac Blood Disorders & Cancer Center

Last Thursday, Liam and Josiah put on their new t-shirts and we headed into chemo for the day. They were excited, not for the usual doctor's visit, but because we were going to their first Braves game that night! Thanks to the Aflac Blood Disorders and Cancer Center, we had the amazing opportunity to go to a Braves game and have an awesome time.

When we first got there, it was time for dinner! The catered dinner included delicious hotdogs and hamburgers, which happens to be Liam's favorites. He was so happy to see his "friends", the nurses from the hospital, there to share in the fun. They also painted faces!

Josiah was excited because ice cream was for desert! He was in heaven, for sure. Here's my little red-head having a great time after dinner:

Then, the boys got a huge surprise when Tim Hudson stopped by to sign their baseballs and take pictures! Liam had no idea who he was, but that didn't stop him from hopping up on his lap, making silly faces and laughing with him. We got some great photos with "Huddy"!

After dinner, the game was about to begin, so we took our seats in the stadium and watched the first pitch. The boys were captivated! Not only did they enjoy the game, but all of the music and entertainment in between innings. They'd watched games on tv, but they quickly learned that going to a live game is so much more fun. There were funny films on the screen, music clips, the kiss-cam and, of course, the Tomahawk Chop! They both got foam tomahawks to do the chop and, no matter what they were doing, when the Tomahawk Chop started around the stadium, they stopped, picked up their tomahawks and started chopping away. It was so cute!

The boys had such a wonderful time and it was all thanks to The Aflac Blood Disorders & Cancer Center. We are so thankful for Liam's amazing doctors and nurses. They make all the difference in the world! The boys would never admit it, but they were so tired. In fact, Papa had to carry Liam on his shoulders all the way to the car.

This was definitely a night we will never forget! A special thanks to everyone who made this night possible!

Making The Most Out of Our Weekend Vacation At Embassy Suites In Buckhead Atlanta

A few weekends ago we packed up the car and headed to Atlanta for the weekend. We often take mini weekend vacations with the kids and we thought this was the perfect time for a trip! We've wanted to visit the new LegoLand Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza since it opened and took this opportunity to get on the road! Our first stop was the Embassy Suites Buckhead Atlanta location, our hotel for the night, to check in and get settled. For those of you who are not familiar with the Atlanta area, Buckhead is one of the nicest parts of the city, with many shops, malls, activities and delicious restaurants! Staying in Buckhead means we are right in the middle of all the fun, so we were excited for the trip.

The beautiful view from our room!

We followed our GPS straight to the Embassy Suites Buckhead location and pulled in to automatically be greeted by the valet who offered to park our car and take up our luggage. We usually just opt for self-parking, but the valet parking was only a few dollars more, so we went for it and what a nice change that was- not having to haul all of our bags up stairs, elevators and across the world. As we walked into the hotel, Josiah let out a gasp because it truly was breathtaking! The glass ceiling let a glow of natural light into the atrium and there was a pond all the way through the area filled with Koi fish. This entertained the boys, including my husband, while I checked us in.

The kids loved looking at the fish!

If I remember correctly, we were on the 23rd floor and what a view we had from the elevator! The boys loved going up and down. I'm pretty sure they could have done this all night if I let them.

Coming into our room, we were immediately surprised at just how big the room was, or should I say rooms? There was a living area separate from the bedroom, both very spacious and inviting. The boys immediately went off to explore. The view of Buckhead was great, as we could see the skyline of Atlanta as well as the nearby attractions! Both rooms had 32 inch flat-screen TVs and I love that the living area had a desk where I could work as well as a pull-out couch for extra people! They even asked if they could provide a crib for Liam, which was so nice and thoughtful.

At check-in, we were told about the nightly manager's reception, which featured a variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic as well as delicious snacks! Josiah and I decided to head down to the atrium for some beverages during the reception! We got there a little late, so all the snacks were gone, but there were two bartenders there to make any drinks we'd like! I decided on a Peach Bellini, got a glass of Merlot for Cory and Josiah was excited to get a Shirley Temple with cherries on top.

The manager's reception was hopping with guests!

One of the first things I realized was that not only is a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse attached to the Embassy Suites, but they offered room service! We had never eaten there before, but had heard it was delicious, so we took this opportunity to enjoy a great meal in the comfort of our own room. Dinner arrived about 30 minutes after ordering and it looked amazing!

Doesn't this make your mouth water?

My husband opted for steak with their famous Potatoes Au Gratin and the kids shared a cheeseburger meal off the kid's menu. I wasn't as hungry, so I got a salad and the French Onion Soup. Paired with our free drinks from the reception and some iced tea, we were ready to eat!

We were stuffed by the end and needed something to do to work it off. What to do? There was no need to even leave the hotel, honestly, because they had two pools, one indoor and one outdoor. Since it was so nice outside, we went outdoors. I usually just stick my feet in the edge or sit on the stairs with Liam because the water is chilly, but the water was actually heated and warm.

This was definitely the kids' favorite part of the stay at Embassy Suites. They had a blast and we stayed outdoors until the boys were obviously sleepy and ready to go back to the room!

The view from our room at sunset!

I gave the boys a nice bath and we got into bed to watch TV. About this time I realized we didn't bring any milk for Liam, so my husband ran down to the gift shop and purchase some milk and was back in no time! We laid in bed watching cartoons until the boys couldn't keep their eyes open any longer. My husband, on the other hand, stayed in the living room watching sports until the wee hours of the morning, enjoying the peace and quiet!

We had such a great time and the bed was so comfortable. Once I fell asleep, I was completely out until late the next day. I unfortunately missed the made to order breakfast and was so sad, but my husband, the early bird, was up at the crack of dawn and made it a point to get his delicious breakfast. He raved about it, saying how amazing his omelet was. He travels for business quite often and usually complains that breakfast at the hotel is not very appetizing, but not this time. He was very pleased. Since he got there so early, there was no line either and he really enjoyed sitting in the lobby reading a paper and people-watching.

As someone who worked in customer service for many, many years, it is very important to me that staff is caring and helpful. The staff was unbelievably helpful every time we needed something, from the moment we checked in to the time we checked out. We even forgot our deodorant and they had complementary deodorant for us, which saved us from having to purchase at the gift shop. Plus, when I travel, it is usually with kids, so it's nice to finally have a very kid-friendly hotel in mind for us to visit the next time. When we checked out, my husband turned in our valet ticket and our car was brought up to the front door for us. Once it was there, they even helped us load our luggage!

Going to the gift shop with Papa!

I am honestly not used to so many great amenities and features in our hotels. Even the 4-star hotels in the area we've stayed in have not been as nice as this Embassy Suites, so I was extremely impressed with the entire visit. We planned on going out that evening for dinner and for some sort of activity for the kids, but with a restaurant on-site, we were able to stay in to eat and since they had two pools, we had more than enough to do without even leaving the building!

Building a castle for Liam at LegoLand Discovery Center!

We actually planned on visiting LegoLand after checking into the hotel, but since we were so happy we ended up extending the trip and going to LegoLand the next afternoon! Believe me, I took about 200 pictures during the trip and the boys have really enjoyed looking at them over and over again!We had such a great time, I honestly cannot wait for our next visit. The boys are already asking when they can go back to the hotel with the fish! I have a feeling we'll be visiting again before the end of the summer. This was a perfect weekend trip for our family!

Be sure to Follow Embassy Suites on Twitter and Like them on Facebook keep up with all the latest news and promotions!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in an Ambassador Program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Embassy Suites Hotels and received a one-night complimentary stay at an Embassy Suites Hotel to facilitate my reviews and a promotional item to thank me the taking the time to participate.

Super Why Live Coming To Atlanta, Georgia #SuperWHYLive

Super WHY Takes Off in First-Ever Live Show

Super WHY Live: You’ve Got the Power!

Preschoolers’ Favorite Reading-Powered Heroes Soar onto Stages Nationwide in All-New Live-Action Adventure Inspired by Top-Rated

PBS KIDS TV Series!

Must-See Multimedia Experience for the Whole Family Features New Music from

Jack Antonoff of the Chart-Topping Indie Band “fun.”

My kids absolutely love Super WHY, so I had to tell everyone about the upcoming tour. They are traveling to nince cities across the US this July, including Atlanta, Georgia! Here's a bit of the information about the show...

From Storybrook Village to a town near you!  Preschoolers have “the power” to experience Super WHY as never before when Super WHY Live: You’ve Got the Power!, the first-ever live show based on the top-rated PBS KIDS TV series from Out of the Blue Enterprises, flies onto stages across the country starting this summer!  Produced by S2BN Entertainment (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Yo Gabba Gabba Live!, Rock of Ages: The Musical) and featuring music from Jack Antonoff of the hit band “fun.,” Super WHY Live kicks off in Monroe, Louisiana, and will visit nine cities throughout July, “setting the stage” for additional stops from coast-to-coast this fall.  

Click HERE for more info and to purchase tickets! You can even purchase VIP "Meet & Greet" packages!

Click HERE for more info and to purchase tickets! You can even purchase VIP "Meet & Greet" Packages! 

“Super WHY Live adds a whole new exhilarating dimension to Super WHY and its power to entertain and inspire young children,” said Samantha Freeman Alpert, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the series and Co-Founder of Out of the Blue Enterprises.  “We’re so excited to extend the beloved series from the screen to the stage with this full-scale live production for families to enjoy together.”

Super WHY Live vibrantly brings to life Super Why, Alpha Pig, Wonder Red, Princess Presto and their puppy pal Woofster, who each take children on larger-than-life, imagination-stimulating adventures.  With help from the audience, the characters embark on magical, out-of-this-world journeys to explore what they’ve always wanted to be – from a ship’s captain to a rock star and more!  While singing, dancing and interacting with the characters on stage along the way, pint-sized fans (and parents, alike!) discover who really has the power to make dreams come true!

Showcasing cutting-edge technology, visual effects and aerial stunts, Super WHY Live is a sensory spectacular that will dazzle and delight audiences of all ages.  The new production features a team of top talent, including a Tony Award-winning scenic designer and an Emmy and Tony Award-nominated lighting designer, who create a mesmerizing setting for the show.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to take fans on this high-flying ride and invite them into the world of Super WHY in a completely unique way,” said Michael Cohl, CEO, S2BN Entertainment.  “For many children, Super WHY Live will be one of their earliest live entertainment experiences and we’ve created a truly unforgettable show for the entire family.”   

Following are the stops on the first leg of the 2012 Super WHY Live: You’ve Got the Power! tour.  Additional cities, tour dates and venues to be announced soon.

Date	City	Venue
Wednesday, July 18	Monroe, LA	Monroe Civic Center – Jack Howard Theater
Friday, July 20	Birmingham, AL	BJCC Concert Hall
Saturday, July 21	Knoxville, TN	The Tennessee Theatre
Sunday, July 22	Memphis, TN	The Orpheum Theatre
Tuesday, July 24	Raleigh, NC	Memorial Auditorium
Wednesday, July 25	N. Charleston, SC	North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Friday, July 27	Atlanta, GA	Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Saturday, July 28	Tampa, FL	Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, July 29	Miami Beach, FL	The Fillmore

Be sure to check out the webpage for all information. You can also follow via Twitter at @superwhylive


We'll be at the Atlanta show and hope to see you there!! The kids are so excited about this one.

Applegate Farms Delicious Organic Hot Dogs & Summer Grilling Tips

Summer is the time of year when much of our time is spent outdoors enjoying the nice weather. It's also the perfect time of year for grilling out! As soon as the weather starts feeling warmer, my husband runs out to the store to buy a propane tank and can't wait to start grilling everything. Believe me, the grilling has already begun and won't stop until it is snowing this winter!

I don't know about your kids, but mine always want to grill out hot dogs! I can't say I blame them. It's a timeless classic summer-time meal that always pleases the palate. However, many meats, especially hot dogs, contain a variety of unhealthy ingredients, not to mention giving the animals hormones and antibiotics.  As a family, we take great care to watch the types of foods we eat and prefer foods that do not contain nitrates and hormones. When I found out what was in the average hot dog, I was appalled and disgusted, but we found a delicious and nutritious alternative!

Here in the Atlanta area we have Applegate Farms, which provide us with delicious organic and natural meats. Applegate makes sure their animals are never given antibiotics, hormones or artificial growth promotants. In addition, they treat their animals and land with respect, which is also very important to me as an animal rights activist. Be sure to check out Applegate hot dogs since they are now available in the Atlanta, Georgia area! Click HERE to "Like" Applegate Farms on Facebook and click "Product Locator" to find a store near you. Or click the Like button below:


In honor of Applegate's delicious hot dog launch in Atlanta, we want to share some healthy and delicious grilling ideas with you to try! There are some easy ways to make a great dinner without spending hours marinating and preparing.

 Here are some of our favorite ideas for delicious summer grilling

 (recipes included):

1. Reusable Cedar Planks - You can grill most anything on cedar planks, but my husband especially loves grilling salmon. It gives a distinct smokey flavor that other ways of cooking do not. Make sure the planks do not contain any chemicals before purchasing. Then, soak in water for at least 1-2 hours so they don't burn on the grill.

• Cedar Plank Lemon Dill Salmon Recipe (my husband's signature dish)

After you have prepared the cedar planks, put your salmon filets on the cedar planks for grilling. Throughout the grilling process use fresh lemon juice to marinate as well as dill. You can use as much or as little as you would like for your tastes! It's so simple, but tastes absolutely wonderful. I don't even like fish, but the lemon takes out the "fishy" flavor, the planks give a smokey taste and the grill makes the salmon melt-in-your mouth deliciousness! 


2. Grilling Wok - Instead of aluminum foil, which I believe is not healthy for us, we use a grilling wok. Just about anything you would grill in the foil can be grilled on the wok. In fact, I think veggies taste even better in the wok.

• Potatoes & Onions Side Dish (one of my favorites)

This is yet another easy dish to grill and goes perfectly with Applegate hot dogs. Peal and cube the 4-5 medium potatoes. Throw them into the wok. Then, slice up a Vidalia onion and add to the wok, too. We then add about 1 Tablespoon of butter or Extra Virgin Olive Oil along with a little salt and a bit of pepper to taste. Then cover and stir occasionally so they don't stick and burn.



3. Go to the grill - Many times you don't even need any other materials to cook items! Just lay them straight on the grill for a delicious meal. Steaks, hot dogs, sweet corn on the cob and more! I'm getting hungry just writing about them.

• Sweet Corn On The Cob

This is also a simple and delicious side dish. Just throw on the grill when cooking hot dogs and turn often to cook evenly. It doesn't take long to cook and tastes delicious. Just add some butter and sea salt. It will melt in your mouth!

Now that you've read some of our favorite grilling tips and recipes, leave a comment below telling me one of your own tips! Also, be sure to check out my "Summer Grilling" Pinterest Board for more great grilling ideas for the family. 

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Applegate blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.

America's Supernanny Casting Call For Atlanta Area

As many of you may know, we live just north of Atlanta, Georgia, so I am very excited to tell you about this opportunity!

America's Supernanny is currently searching for families to be on their show. Could your family benefit from the help of the child/teen expert, Deborah Tillman? She has founded and runs 3 successful daycare centers in Virginia where she has worked with children and teens for many years. Her credentials are outstanding and she wants to help families!

America's Supenanny is coming to Atlanta, Georgia to interview families at the end of this month/beginning of June! Do you have behavioral difficulties with your children? Or do you know someone else who does? They could greatly benefit from this opportunity!

If you are interested or want to recommend a family for the show, please contact Robyn Kiyomi directly at 323.904.4680 or via email at rkiyomi@shedmediaus.com with your name, phone number, city/state, number of children and why you need help.

The deadline to apply is Friday, May 25th, 2012, so don't delay!