Looks like this has ended !! hope lots of you got it while tix were still available 

HURRY!!!!! This deal is now LIVE!

Hurry over and grab your BOGO LEGOLAND Awesomer Passes now!

DETAILS:

Simply head over HERE and buy one Awesomer ticket online at the regular price of $149 and get another one for free. You will need to add 2 to your cart, then enter the code 6043 at checkout which will take off the cost of one ticket.

Every pass purchased with this deal must be activated on site at the Legoland Florida theme park in Winter Haven no later than June 10.  LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS are available, don’t wait.

Awesomer shoppers may receive a maximum of two free annual passes per transaction. This offer is good for purchase of new Awesomer Annual Passes only.

The Awesomer Annual Pass includes 12 months of admission to Legoland and its water park plus three sister attractions in Orlando: Madame Tussauds, Sea Life aquarium, Orlando Eye observation wheel. It’s also valid at the Legoland Discovery Center in Atlanta

GO HERE

Once there, click on AWESOMER PASS and enter code 6043 at checkout!

The post BOGO LEGOLAND Florida Awesomer Passes *TODAY ONLY* appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

photo credit: Lovebugs and Postcards

Captain America: Civil War comes to theaters May 6th

While in L.A. for the Captain America: Civil War press event, I had the opportunity to interview cast and directors of the film. This last interview was with film directors, Anthony and Joe Russo. They are the creative and talented minds that directed this action packed film. The pair introduced themselves and then asked the room…Team Cap or Team Iron Man? Of course, we were practically split 50/50. We showed the directors our shirts to confirm that we really were split 50/50 down the middle. Their response was:

“That was the intent with the film was to hopefully when you’re done watching a movie you leave the theater and you argue with your family and friends about it. We didn’t want to make a declarative statement one way or the other. We just want to represent both as accurately and emotionally as we could”

And the interview began…

Photo Credit: Film Frame© Marvel 2016

Was there any rivalry between you guys writing the script and thinking out the process of the movie between Captain and Ironman?

Anthony: No, I don’t think there was rivalry just because we both love both characters. You know, like our process has always been, we like very layered storytelling so we often times when we’re breaking the story or prepping a movie we’ll sort of step through the story from different characters points of view. We’ll take a pass where it’ll just be all about this character. And then we’ll take a pass where it’ll be all about that character. We work with ensembles a lot in our work. And so it’s become part of our process to really have moments where the whole movie belongs to somebody else, just one particular character for a moment as we’re thinking about the film from beginning to end. I think that’s the process we went through on this movie as well with the writers, Markus and McFeely and the producer, Nate Moore from Marvel and Kevin Feige. So it was very much I think, they’re both very near and dear to our hearts. We love them both. The other thing I think about Joe and I is that we love characters who are exciting and fun and cool at all that but also are very human and vulnerable. We always look for that side of the character. So for us it was very important to find where’s Steve Rogers vulnerable? Where is Tony Stark vulnerable? And sort of play to those in this movie in a way that would put them in conflict with one another you know, so.

And of course..being the directors I suppose they can’t really pick a side, right? But, I know the truth. I mean these are very smart men! TEAMCAP all the way

Photo Credit: Film Frame© Marvel 2016

Finding SPIDERMAN….

Spiderman in the movie, where did you find him and are you going to hold onto that kid?

JOE : Oh my God! Doing everything we can to hang onto him.

ANTHONY : Yeah. We’re more in love with him than anybody.

JOE : There was a really exhaustive audition process for that role. And you know we saw him for the first time in our office in Atlanta, it was Anthony and I. We were doing work sessions with all the actors. And he came in and — , you know Spiderman was a very important character to me as a kid. I was a big comic book collector. I still have my collection in my closet to my wife’s dismay. And you know, that character was my favorite character growing up. So to be able to interpret him on screen was like a dream come true. The things that I loved about him as a character when I was a kid were his vulnerability, his insecurity, his sense of humor. But I loved that his sense of humor in the books was a very self-aware you know. He was a smart ass kid but he was a kid. And we felt that you know, our interpretation of the character, we wanted to have an actor very close in age to Peter Parker. And Tom’s a young actor. And we also wanted to make sure that the actor had both the vulnerability and a confidence at the same time. It made him accessible. But also would allow him to stand in contrast to all these other really experienced superheroes who are running around dealing with a very adult problem. And then you insert into that a kid who’s trying to improvise his way through the situation but doesn’t really understand the stakes and couldn’t understand the stakes because he’s a kid. And Tom Holland just embodied all of that. He brought a real authenticity. That was the other thing too is that we really wanted him to feel like he was of New York today, right now and not about comic book New York. He was a kid living in Queens who had a certain energy to him and a certain.. that feeling that you get or that the shift in your personality that happens when you do live in New York City. You know and that, so that was everything we were looking for and he, the kid just embodied it so well.

I can’t wait for you all to see Spiderman in this movie. They really nailed it choosing Tom Holland to play this part. And, wait until you see his aunt! One of my favorite actresses makes an appearance.

Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal © Marvel 2016

LOVE STORY??

The love story between Captain and 13, are you looking forward to furthering that and sharing more of that?

JOE : Yeah. We’re sitting down and breaking into new war stories now and might be the next time that you see a lot of these characters on screen. And you know everything’s in the conversation. Where do these characters go? Where do we want them to be? The interesting thing about Civil War for us is and the fact that we knew we were going to be doing the infinity war films as we were. There’s really a connection between the winter soldier, Civil War and the infinity war movies. It’s an arch and that arch is of this family. And this movie is a downbeat in this family’s existence in the avengers. And what we thought would be most interesting heading into infinity war would be putting these characters in the most complicated position they could possibly be in to face the greatest threat that they’re ever going to face. Can they pull together? Can they forgive each other? Will they forgive each other? Should they forgive each other? Can they ever work together again? And so I think you’ll see some fracturing as we move forward this Civil War is known for. And it’s certainly going to carry forward. In the fracturing you will see you know, characters you know, camps of characters dealing with each other and moving forward. And certainly will be you know Captain and agent 13 will be part of that.

Photo Credit: Film Frame© Marvel 2016

Captain America: Civil War comes to theaters May 6th

Don’t miss our other interviews:

Interview with Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch from Captain America Civil War #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap

Exclusive Interview With Chris Evans : Captain America Civil War #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap

Interview With Paul Bettany, The Vision | Captain America: Civil War

Interview with Emily VanCamp, Agent 13

Disclosure: I was provided with a trip to L.A. to help cover this event. All opinions are 100% my own.

The post Interview With The Directors of Captain America Civil War #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

The day has finally arrived! Captain America: Civil War is in theaters today. I’m so excited to see it a second time with my family this weekend so I can share the awesomeness with my hubby and boys. I’m going to give you a few highlights below. However, I firmly believe it’s not cool to give away spoilers. Why? Because you need to go see the movie! Go NOW and reserve those tickets. I betcha the theaters are going to be filling up FAST. I mean come on… Chris Evans….Robert Downey Jr. ….. the Spider-Man addition….. need I say more?

The new Spider-Man is awesome. He is played by Tom Holland, an actor that really makes Spider-Man’s character  in the movie. Boyishness with that teenage curiousity. He is in awe of the other superheroes and comments on that fact so many times. There are a few parts in the movie where it seems he is not sure which side he wants to be on.

The Women in the movie are AMAZING …..

Marvel put the girls in the middle of some serious fight scenes and decision making. They are strong willed, strong, and just plain FABULOUS. Check out the video below highlighting some amazing scenes these women pulled off.

Captain America: Civil War NOW IN THEATERS!

Go check it out this weekend. Bring the family. Choose a side and let us know. Are you #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan

If you LOVE Disney and Marvel characters as much as us, be sure to check out Disney’s Personalization-Shop! I let my daughter choose anything she wanted from the store and she chose to combine her love of softball AND Captain America. She has the smarts to love #TeamCap as much as I do, so she chose a #TeamCap hoodie and personalized it with her softball number and nickname on the back.

It was easy to order too. Just head on over HERE and browse. Choose from apparel, mugs, blankets, and so much more. Then, add your name or like my daughter did you can add your child’s sports team number, and you’re done! Let us know what you choose!

Don’t miss our other interviews:

Interview with Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch from Captain America Civil War #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap
>Exclusive Interview With Chris Evans : Captain America Civil War #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap
Interview With Paul Bettany, The Vision | Captain America: Civil War<
Interview with Emily VanCamp, Agent 13
Interview with the Captain America: Civil War Directors

Disclosure: I was provided with a trip to L.A. to help cover this event. All opinions are 100% my own. I was also provided with a gift card to to the Disney Store to check out their personalization store.

The post Captain America: Civil War Review | Why They’re Divided, How the Women ROCK it, and SPIDER-MAN #CaptainAmericaEvent #TeamCap appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

photo credit

Great picture opportunities. Note that there will be men in blue shirts offering to take your photos. Once they are done, they may lead you over to their store to buy souvenirs. I will say, they took some awesome photos of us with our camera and camera on the phone of our group in front of the large statue of “Christ the Redeemer”.  I tipped him. It’s optional. I didn’t find anything in his store to purchase, so we each gave him a dollar for his photos.

In 1970 in the mountain “Isabel de Torres”, at the top of the fortress, “El Cristo Redentor”, a Christ the Redeemer statue, was inducted with a vision of a greater tourist attraction. In June 1971 construction began on the highway from El Cupey to the base of the mountain, so as to facilitate the easy transportation of machines and equipment required for the construction of the “Teleférico”, cable car.

Are you dreaming of traveling to the Dominican Republic? Check out this post: Travel To Dominican Republic Aboard Fathom’s Adonia

The post Puerto Plata Dominican Republic | Teleferico Cable Car appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

In April, I headed to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic aboard Fathom’s Adonia Cruise Ship. It was an unforgettable trip from start to finish. I posted about the ship, port, on board activities, and more in this post. Now, I’d like to share about the impact activities that I took part in while on the ground in Puerto Plata.

Before heading on our trip, we had the chance to choose our impact activities that we could take part in while on the ground in Puerto Plata. There were quite a few choices. We chose 3 ahead of time, once on the ship we removed one because of a conflicting time. My cabin mates (My sister and my niece) were able to reserve an additional activity each while on the ship!

Community English Conversation and Learning

Fathom travelers will be able to participate in Community English Conversation & Learning activities that help bolster employment opportunities for lower income adults. These small group programs take place within community centers and local homes, and include one-on-one conversation, English instruction, food preparation, and meal sharing. Participating in these Community English Conversation & Learning programs will enable you to experience the powerful and immediate impact of your contributions.

This was the first impact activity that I took part in. The two words I would use to describe this activity….. LIFE CHANGING. Before heading out to the community, I took a class aboard the ship to prepare. I am not bilingual and know very little Spanish. This class prepared me by teaching me common phrases and words. The leaders also provided us with a packet to take with us to help us communicate with the people in the community. I learned phrases like “My name is Mary” and “good morning”. Also, “what is your name?”. Those phrases were the most important. As this is what we would be teaching during our impact activity.

On the day of our activity, we walked over to the port and followed the signs to find our impact leader for the afternoon. Everything was clearly marked, so we had no issues finding our leader and our bus.

We then boarded a bus and headed out. There were 2 buses, each going to a different village. As we drove through the streets I snapped photos of what I saw. This was a very poor area. I had never seen anything like it. I was a little in shock. The travelers on my bus seemed to have traveled through villages like this before. I had not.

On the bus, our leader explained what we would be doing. He also gave us each a colored wristband.

We were in pairs of 2 (except for my group, which had 3). Once there, we were to look for the family that had the matching color band and we would visit their home. Our leader explained that we would each receive flash cards and a book to help us teach this weeks phrases to our family. We were given time to answer questions. Our leader also pointed out some interesting buildings we passes along our drive. Like the college below and the police station.

Once we arrived and unloaded the bus, we filed into the community impact center. This was actually the local church in the village. It was set up with chairs, fans, a cooler full of water, and some snacks. We met our family by matching up our bracelets. We then listened to instructions and played a few games with the group. For example, we went around the room saying our names in Spanish and English.

Once we met with our families, we were given a stack of notebooks. One notebook for each family member in the home. We were also given a pack of crayons. The family member that was present with us was instructed to write their name and decorate it however they chose.

This is Maria. She was the amazing woman that I was to teach on this day. She was full of happy energy. She almost always had a smile on her face. There were a total of 5 people in her home, so we were given 5 notebooks, 5 pencils, and a pack of crayons. Once we were finished with our notebooks, we headed out as a group. We walked through the village together and stopped at each family’s home. Once you arrived at your family’s home, you went inside to meet the rest of the family and begin your teaching.

We entered Maria’s home. Inside we met her mother, Ana. We also met her granddaughter, a sweet toddler that fell in love with the juice box the leader gave her. We also met her neighbor, a 19 year old boy that was very interested in what we were teaching, however, he was very shy and took a bit of push to get him talking! He had not learned to write, so we wrote his name for him. A short time later, 2 more neighbors joined us. A woman and her 12 year old daughter. The girl went to a local school and was learning English in school, so she was able to communicate with us better than the others.

MARIA

Joselito

Ana

As you can see here, Maria’s house doubled as the local village restaurant. She had 3 or 4 plastic tables each with a few chairs that she had to move for us to sit in the living room.

Once we met the family, we were on our way to making our impact. We taught the family how to introduce themselves. “My name is…..”  I really have to give serious respect to those that have learned multiple languages. These 3 little words were very hard to teach to this family that had no English teaching. With the exception of the 12 year old neighbor. The first 15 minutes was repeating back and forth “My name is….Maria”  “My name is Ana” “My name is Joselito”. Once we completed that task, we moved onto some short phrases and feeling words that we had on flashcards. One side was the Spanish phrase, the other the English translation. I believe we spent an hour teaching. By the end, they all knew how to introduce themselves and tell us how they felt. “I am happy”  “I am tired”  “I am hungry”.  Ana, the grandmother, was the most excited to learn. She kept taking my cards and studying them up close. She was catching on very quick! She would read and repeat. Read and repeat. I would help with some of the letters that were difficult for her to translate. At the end of our session, we wrote a note in the notebooks for the next fathom travelers. Just a simple note to let them know what we worked on and how it went. For example, I wrote in Ana’s book “Ana is very excited to learn. She picked up all the feeling words quickly and can properly introduce herself in English. If you give her the flash cards, she will repeat everything on her own and is very teachable”.

Then it was time to head back to the community building. We took photos and gave hugs. Only Maria would join us on the walk back to the center. Along the way we stopped at a few homes to retrieve the rest of our group.

Once we were back in the community center, everyone had a chance to share how the day went. I was overcome with emotion when everyone shared the impact that they had during this activity. Travelers and Dominican’s alike, we were all touched. Many were moved to tears. There were lots of hugs and smiles as well. We shared a snack and had a bottle of water before saying goodbye and loading onto the bus.

I will never forget everything I learned and experienced on this day in Puerto Plata, DR. I know I was there to make an impact, but I feel like I was the one impacted. The people in the community were so friendly and giving. They welcomed us into their home like we had known them for years. They were excited to learn. When walking through the streets, the neighbors all came out to wave and greet us. It was an amazing experience.

To find out how you, too, can make an impact in the Dominican Republic, head over to the Fathom Website now. Stay tuned for another post about our second impact activity!

Disclosure: I was provided with an all expense paid trip to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% my own and were not in any way edited, changed, or added to by fathom.

The post Impact Activities in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic | Community English Conversation and Learning with Fathom #TravelDeep appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster is coming back late this summer with thrilling enhancements that will make one of the world’s best roller coasters even better. Universal has released some NEW DETAILS.

Here is what is coming:

* A totally new ride vehicle that features a sleek, modern design and powerful audio system that blares an exclusive, original ride score by Patrick Stump, front man for internationally-renowned rock band, Fall      Out Boy

*A new, original storyline and completely redesigned queue experience that places guests inside a perilous scientific experiment led by the nefarious villain, General Thaddeus Ross

*An immense new attraction entrance featuring The Hulk himself

You can read all about each of those new details on the Universal Blog here.

Be sure to check out this video too:

The post NEW Details On The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster | Coming to Universal Islands Of Adventure Late Summer 2016 appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Mako is coming!  Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster will surface at SeaWorld on June 10 and will be the centerpiece of Shark Wreck Reef – a newly designed realm that blends education and thrills, while immersing guests in an underwater world.

This massive 2 acre area will have a shark theme and include Mako, the Shark Encounter, Sharks Underwater Grill, shops, plus educational experiences! Shark Wreck Reef is designed to make guests feel they’re underwater and part of the group of sharks that have taken over a shipwrecked reef.

Inside the realm, guests will learn about the impact humans are having on sharks and why these animals are critical to the environment. Sharks are hunted for their fins — considered a delicacy in certain countries — and in addition, tens of thousands are caught accidentally in nets. Several species of sharks are on the verge of extinction.

As guests venture further into the realm and into the queue line they’ll discover a unique sound system that will enhance their experience. An original Mako score can be heard and follows guests as they enter the loading bay and emerge from the station aboard Mako and up the lift hill.

At night, specialty lights will accent the coaster trains, realm and track, flickering and shimmering, simulating fish being scattered by a mako on the hunt.

Mako will be a hypercoaster, designed for speed and relentless “air time” and lures guests to brave it’s tight turns, steep drops and predator power speeds. Riders will climb up to 200 feet high – offering tremendous views of the surrounding area – before plunging to reach speeds up to 73 mph.

Continue to follow the Mako frenzy using the hashtag #NothingFaster. Visit SeaWorld.com/Mako for more information and updates on the new ride.

The post Mako Opens June 10th at Sea World Orlando | Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

This past January I had the opportunity to take my family aboard the Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration cruise ship to Freeport, Bahamas.

About: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration is the finest ship to ever sail out of the Port of Palm Beach and the perfect Bahamas cruise getaway whether you have all the time in the world or looking for a flexible and inexpensive way to include some vacation fun in your busy life.

We left out of the Port of Palm Beach on a Friday afternoon. This was a short 2 night cruise for us. We are avid cruisers, but this was our first time on the Grand Celebration and our first time on a much shorter cruise. The ship was beautiful both inside and out. We had 2 cabins booked, since we are a family of 6. This is the norm for us. Most cruise ships max out at 4 or 5 per room. Our rooms were side by side. We had a large window in our room with a view!

Once we boarded, we went on a quick tour of the ship to get acquainted with our new home for the next few days. First stop was the pool and then we headed over to check out the baby pool with slides.

The slides are meant for younger kids – babies through preschool age in my opinion.  My kids stuck with the big main pool on the deck. However, if you’re traveling with younger kids, this slide area is perfect! We found the theater and casino next.

Then I found these adorable pods that overlook the water. Perfect for reading or napping:

After we took part in the mandatory safety muster drill, we were off! The views out of the port were amazing!

We headed up to play some games with the kiddos.

The sail away party was in full swing. Once that was over we headed to eat dinner. The food was amazing. I always gain a few pounds on cruises. The food is always so good and abundant!

My husband and I checked out the casino once it opened and then headed back to the room for the night. Our excursion tickets were waiting for us.

We chose a relaxing excursion. A BEACH DAY at the Grand Lucayan. The Grand Lucayan is a HUGE resort near the port.

ABOUT: Grand Lucayan has 7.5 acres of white sand beaches and is the largest and most beautiful resort in the Grand Bahamas. It is also steps away from Port Lucaya, the hub of entertainment on the island with many shops, local cuisine and night activities.

When you book your cruise, you have the option of adding on nights and staying at the resort. We didn’t choose the stay this time. But, we spent an entire day at the resort taking advantage of their awesome amenities. We had a great night sleep and filling breakfast. Then we headed to the Encore Lounge at 9:30am to get wristbands for the days excursion. We brought along towels, a change of clothes, and sunscreen.  The excursion included lunch. And we could return anytime before the last bus at 4:30pm. All transportation was included.

The bus took us to the hotel entrance. The resort is massive! And beautiful inside and out. The teenagers enjoyed some free wifi and foosball in the shade while the rest of us explored. They also played a game of chess.

The resort had gorgeous pools and beaches. Plenty to do and see. I have way too many pictures to share in this post.

We headed over to the local shops for coffee and a pair flip flops that one of our children left at home.   It’s always something, right?

Once we were back from shopping, we headed to lunch before hitting the beach. Remember, lunch was included in this excursion.

Lunch was a buffet. Plenty of choices for the whole family. Pizza, burgers, salad, chicken, and plenty of desserts.

Everyone was happy. And full! Once we were done eating, we headed out to find a nice sunny spot on the gorgeous beach. Check out these beautiful shells:

Once settled, the teens decided to lay out to get some sun, while the little kids, my husband, and I headed over the water sports.

There were plenty of options to keep the kids busy. Kayaks, parasailing, boating, sailboating, and jet skis. We chose a jet ski ride. All 3 fit perfectly on the jet ski.

After our instructions were covered, they were off!

Next, my oldest daughter and I explored and took more pictures.

Next, we headed into the water. It was hard to choose between the gorgeous pools and the crystal clear ocean.

The ocean won. Probably because we have a pool in our backyard?

There was so much to do and see, we stayed until the last possible moment. At 4pm, we headed to wait for a bus back to the ship.

Once we were back on the ship, we showered and napped! It was a long, exciting day! We had a filling meal and played cards on the deck well into the night. Before we knew it we were all fast asleep. We docked the next morning and were back to reality.

I absolutely loved this cruise. The kids and husband had a great time too. I was reluctant at first as I’m used to larger ships and longer cruises. But there was plenty to do to keep us entertained and we were well fed as well. If I had to complain about anything, it would be the length of the cruise. Next time, I will book a few nights at the Grand Lucayan to extend our stay.

Check out the benefits of staying at the Grand Lucayan:

All-Inclusive Grand Lucayan Resort Amenities

Currently, there is a GROUPON DEAL for this trip!

Pretty awesome, right?

Disclosure: I was provided with this trip to help facilitate my review. All pictures, opinions, details, are my own – even the typos! 

The post Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration Cruise to the Bahamas | Grand Lucayan appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Sunday, July 3rd

2PM  – 4PM |   The Key Lime Pie Hop
Join your friends for a leisurely stroll through the town where Key Lime Pie was born with stops to sample five variations of Key West’s favorite dessert. From classic to creative, your taste buds are guaranteed a good time on this popular, self-paced, culinary event. Sample the best of the best of our island’s Key Lime Pie! $30 (includes 5 pie samples and an autographed copy of David Sloan’s Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook)

4PM  |  Key Lime Rum Sampling, Distillery Tour & Cookbook Signing
Sample rum made with real Key Limes grown in the Florida Keys and tour Key West’s very first legal rum distillery. Meet David Sloan, author of The Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook. Free event. Cookbooks available for purchase for $18.

The post The 2016 Key Lime Festival Key West Florida appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

One of the many reasons I love living in Florida is the fresh fruits and vegetables that are locally grown. Fresh produce is consumed daily in our home. And you just can’t get more fresh than heading out to the local farmer’s market and loading up on locally grown food. It’s not frozen or artificially made. It’s local, fresh, and delicious. Of course, I could grow my own, but that’s not going to happen. I am not blessed with a green thumb. I’m happy that I have wonderful farmers in our community that make it a point to provide our healthy and delicious produce. From local farms right to my kitchen, Fresh From Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture guarantees fresh and delicious food that makes every recipe delicious as well as good for you. You can find delicious recipes on the Fresh From Florida website. From starters to entrees and desserts, you’re sure to find a recipe your whole family will enjoy!

We have a regular weekend routine in our home. Each Saturday we get up early and head down to the local Farmer’s Market. We tend to be the first people there as we usually have a full schedule of ball games the rest of the day. This time of year, I usually load up on our favorites: watermelon, an array of berries, corn, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I’d say those are the staples we enjoy the most.

Our favorite treat is definitely juicy watermelon. I cut it into both wedges and chunks to have on hand during a hot Spring or Summer day. Which we have quite a few of those here in Florida. It’s pretty safe to say every day during the Summer is hot enough for an ice cold watermelon wedge. And we usually enjoy it out by the pool or IN the pool.

Corn is perfect for Memorial Day and July 4th cookouts. We cook out almost every weekend during the summer months. Anything to avoid having to turn on the oven. Throwing ears of corn on the grill is easy and the whole family loves corn on the cob! Easy crowd pleaser for sure.

Tomatoes are perfect in our salad and of course on top of those grilled burgers. Look at that bright red color.  I have had my fair share of tomato sandwiches growing up. BLT, hold the bacon and lettuce. Don’t judge. It’s really good! Especially on toast with a little salt and mayonnaise. Tomatoes add flavor to so many great recipes too. Soups, salads, and the many varieties of freshly made salsa.

We are very lucky as our local farmers market also carry fresh fish options as well. The Fresh From Florida website offers fresh fish recipes as well. The Onion Crusted Grouper is just one of the many recipes they provide.There have been many Saturdays that I have picked up all the ingredients needed for that evenings dinner. All fresh and Florida grown! Gotta love that.

There is a list of local Farmers Market locations on the Fresh From Florida site. You can also find what crops are in season.

Do you enjoy buying locally grown produce?

The post Fresh From Florida | Locally Grown Florida Produce and Fresh Seafood #FreshFromFlorida appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

The teaser trailer for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has been released. It’s due to be in theaters March 17, 2017!!

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs.

FOLLOW ALONG:

The post Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Teaser Trailer appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Have you ever wondered how to make Ratatouille? This video makes it easy to make at home!

Ratatouille is a classic French baked vegetable dish that originated in Nice. It is cooked in a thick and silky roasted bell pepper and tomato sauce and is usually served as an appetizer or a side.

CHECK IT OUT:

The post How To Make Ratatouille | Disney Inspired Recipe appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Plan a Summer Trip To Winter Park, Colorado

Don’t be fooled by the name “Winter Park”. Winter Park, Colorado is full of summer time activities too! In fact, there may be even more options in the warmer months than the winter months. After researching all of the fun activities, we have decided to take the family to Winter Park, Colorado next summer. Check out our list of ideas:

Hiking: Do you love the outdoors as much as I do? I love finding new places to hike and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. There is plenty to see in Winter Park, Colorado.   With hiking boots or rugged tennis shoes and a trail map, adventurers can explore over 600 miles of trails throughout Winter Park and the surrounding valley. Perk: It’s FREE!

Biking: There are well over 600 miles of cross-country trails to enjoy. And, biking is FREE! Trail maps, tips, biking events, and more information are located at mtbcapitalusa.com

Water Sports: Are you an adventure seeker? You’re in luck. There are many choices from rafting, kayaking to the newest water sport, stand up paddling, and more!

Festivals:  There are plenty of fun festivals to attend in Winter Park, Colorado.  Lance Gutersohn’s 4^th of July Celebration (free kids activities and a free country music concert by Buckstein); Colorado Freeride Festival at Trestle Bike Park, July 28-31; The Village Uncorked! Wine, Art, and Cheese Festival at Winter Park Resort on July 2 (tasting tickets available for sale); 6th Annual Leftover Salmon’s SolShine Festival presented by Devil’s Thumb Ranch in the Hideaway Park outdoor amphitheater, Aug. 12–13; High Altitude Flamethrowers Chili Festival at The Village at Winter Park Resort, Aug. 20-21 (tasting tickets available for purchase); and Winter Park Music Festival on Aug. 27.

Fishing: Two rivers, the Fraser and Colorado River, plus countless lakes and streams in Rocky Mountain National Park offer miles of pristine fly-fishing in Grand County. Local guides are available for wade and drift boat guided trips. More details HERE.

To begin planning your summer trip to Winter Park, Colorado, head on over here: http://www.playwinterpark.com/

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Disney on ICE is coming September 2nd – 4th.

PRESALE TICKETS are available NOW through July 6th

GO HERE Password: AMWAY

More show details are coming soon……

The post DISNEY ON ICE AT AMWAY CENTER | Follow Your Heart appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be back this year and and will be adding new cuisine options and will be extending it’s length to a full two months!

This year the festival will run from September 14th to November 14th. That’s 62 days of delicious food and wine. Plenty of time to visit again and again and to get your fill of food and drink from around the world.

Last week, I attended the Epcot International Food & Wine Preview. I tasted new foods that will be added this year and got all the news and updates to share with all of you. I also had the chance to speak with some of the finest chefs on staff. Overall it was a great (and delicious) day!

WORLD SHOWCASE:

If you loved the World Showcase Marketplace booths last year, you will be excited to hear that most of the booths will return this year. The only booth missing will be the Dominican Republic. But, don’t fret! You can still grab a taste of the caribbean with these delicious additions:

Mojo Pork with black beans, cilantro rice, and pickled red onions

Quesito: A delicious puff pastry with sweetened cream cheese and guava sauce

The other booths in the World Showcase Marketplace will remain. There are some new delicious dish additions coming as well. Let’s start with my absolute favorite. The NEW Vegan “Loaded” Greek Nachos. My teenage daughter is new to the Vegan world and we have been trying all sorts of Vegan dishes over the last few months. This delicious dish was my overall favorite at last weeks preview:

This dish is made of Pita Chips, Meatless Sausage Crumbles (Gardein), and Vegan Tzatziki. You will find it in Greece.

Other new additions:

• Oikos Greek Yogurt Vanilla Cake soaked in Ouzo with Yogurt Whipped Cream and Pistachios
• Smoked Beef Brisket and Pimento Cheese served on Garlic Toast
• Chicken and Dumplings

• Grown up ice cream floats with your choice of “hard” soda
• Florida Orange Groves Mango Mama Wine
• 3 Daughters Bimini Twist IPA
• Florida Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine

Future World:

I’m excited to share that the co-hosts of The Chew on ABC will be returning this year. I learned about 3 of the booths. Remember, they are not finalized, so check back for additions. The 3 booths at Future World that have been released are:  Wine & Dine Studios, The Chew Collective, and The Chocolate Studio! Yum – CHOCOLATE!

There will be over 30 marketplaces. The official Food & Wine Festival menus are still being finalized, so keep checking back.

Not only will you get your fill of delicious food and beverages, the festival will feature many culinary demonstrations and special events. You will want to visit the Festival Center for demonstrations, special appearances and book signings, and more ooking tips, book signings, and more. Guests can also choose to attend a 45-minute culinary and beverage seminars, for just $15 per person. In addition, you can attend cheese seminars ($89), boot camps about wine ($129), plus plenty of country specific events, block parties, and more (Prices Vary)

CELEBRITY CHEFS:

Plenty of celebrity chefs will be attending the festival this year. Don’t miss Jamie Deen,”Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, Bryan Voltaggio, Graham Elliot, Cat Cora, and more, as they share their favorite techniques and dishes.

Visit on Disney’s website beginning July 11th for more information. On July 11th, Disney will announce the date you can purchase event tickets, and more.  For reservations, call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378).

The post 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival NEWS appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Are  you ready to satisfy your sweet tooth? This S’mores pie recipe is definitely sweet. So sweet you will want to share with the whole family and probably the neighbors too. We love making s’mores. We do have a fireplace and a fire pit in our back yard, however, living in Florida, it’s rare that it’s cool enough to have a fire. Sitting by the fire in 90 degree weather is not so enticing. This recipe was born so we could have s’mores year round, no campfire required!

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can make a few changes to satisfy your sweet tooth. For example, the chocolate. We used both dark chocolate and milk chocolate bars. You can also choose to use the larger Hershey’s candy bars or choose another candy bar like Reese’s or Krackle bars to mix it up! If you’re a chocoholic you can choose the chocolate flavored graham crackers. Yum!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Egg
• 1 stick softened butter
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 cup Flour
• 1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs * can use chocolate graham crackers – we crushed our own!
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 jar Marshmallow Creme
• 8 whole Hershey’s Chocolate Bars. Or a bag of mini’s work just as well. Mix & match for different tastes!
• 1 cup Marshmallows *or mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup  Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9″ round pie pan with your favorite baking spray.

Beat together butter and sugar. Add in egg and vanilla. Stir. Add flour, graham cracker crumbs, and baking powder. *We crushed our whole graham crackers in plastic baggies before beginning. Divide the dough in half.

Spread half of your dough in the bottom of the pie plate and up the sides. Then, dump your jar of marshmallow cream over your graham cracker crust. Place chocolate squares on top of the marshmallow spread. Cover with marshmallows (or marshmallow minis) 

Next, spread remaining dough on top of the pie. Add a layer of chocolate chips on top and bake 20 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

You can cut into pie pieces to enjoy. We found this recipe a little sweet for a few of the kids taste. So, they dipped graham crackers into the pie for smaller servings. S’mores dip!

The post S’mores Pie Recipe | S’mores Year Round No Campfire Required appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

The moment you’ve been waiting for is almost here! Disney’s upcoming live-action re-telling of “Beauty and the Beast” based on the animated classic which refashions the classic characters and musical numbers from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience. The film stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald with Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson. It will be opening in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES

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Don’t miss Ice Age: Collission Course In theaters July 22^nd

Did you know that the Juno spacecraft successfully started orbiting Jupiter?? And it looks like they have a new friend in space! Check out who it might be below.

Looks like @NASA‘s Juno found something else floating around #Jupiter. #IceAge #CollisionCoursehttps://t.co/KJqqyCle8o

— ICE AGE (@IceAge) July 6, 2016

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Have you been to LEGOLAND^®?  This is my kids favorite amusement park because they can go on EVERY ride at the park! LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort has announced that kids will receive FREE admission!! Florida residents who buy a full price single day ticket will receive a kid’s ticket absolutely FREE!

Offer details:

• This offer is available online only at https://www.legoland.com/kidsgofreefl now through Sunday, July 31, 2016.
• Tickets are valid for visits through Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.
• A maximum of three (3) free kids’ tickets can be redeemed per transaction.
• Florida residency is required and will be verified with the credit card billing ZIP code.

Come see all the brick-tacular fun at the place where #AwesomeAwaits! We’ve debuted two brand-new 4D movies, a fun new water park attraction, new models in MINILAND USA and lots of hands-on LEGO building activities inside the newly re-imagined Imagination Zone. Plus, our exclusive LEGOLANDNight Lights event continues every weekend through July – no extra ticket required!

Book now at:  https://www.legoland.com/kidsgofreefl

The post LEGOLAND Florida Resident Offer | Summer Deal appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Looking to getaway? Family vacation? Girls weekend? Whatever the reason, you need to check out these fares starting at just $39 one way. I found some of the lowest prices I’ve seen when checking the flights out of our local airport (Orlando).

Head on over to FRONTIER and check it out.

The post Another HOT Sale on Flights *Prices Start at $39! appeared first on Florida Bloggess.