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10 Quick Tips Before You Head Out On Your Next Trip

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rubbermaid®/SheSpeaks.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

I am all about a good list.  Whenever I’m doing something and even on a daily basis, I have a list for the things that I need to accomplish.  It’s a no brainer that I have a list when we are talking about travel.  If we are being honest, and we’re friends…so let’s be honest, I have multiple lists.  Everything from what to do before I leave, to the packing list, to what to do while we are on vacation. Andrew often thinks I’m crazy for all the lists that I create, but he doesn’t argue that they help to keep me sane.  And he’s a smart man, he knows that a sane mama is better than a crazy one.

We recently announced Our Quest to 50 in which we have a goal to hit all 50 states (according to our set criteria) before our girls turn 18. We recently hopped in the Mazda Cx-5 and headed out to Cleveland in our quest to hit a few more states before the end of the year. Andrew stayed behind on this trip so I wasn’t entirely worried on this trip, but I realized for the trips we take together, that I really need to have a list of things we should do to before we head out together.

10 Quick Tips Before You Head Out On Your Next Trip

1.Stop the newspaper and mail

  • If you are going to be gone for even a few days, think about asking the post office to just hold your mail at the office until you are back, especially any packages.  You can sign up for notifications from UPS or Fedex so you can redirect packages to be held at the warehouse instead of sitting on your step, letting someone know you aren’t home.

2.Schedule a friend to stop by your house

  • Ask a friend to stop by, hang out for a bit, and just make it seem like people are around.  You could do this every 2-3 days that you are gone.  It’s also just a great way to have someone check on things if you aren’t around, especially if you don’t have a security system or cameras installed that you can check on things yourself.

3.Put timers on your lights at home

  • You can easily buy a timer at a local hardware store to set up to a light in your house.  We like to do upstairs lights at night time so it looks like someone is home.

4.Install motion-activated lights outside

  • We had motion activated lights on the front of our house when we moved in, but after we moved in also installed them on the back of the house. Hint: Burglars don’t like lights – the brighter the better.

5.Mow Your Grass

  • Sounds simple right?  It is.  We mow the grass right before we are scheduled to leave and if we are going to be gone for awhile during a rainy period, we consider hiring a lawn service on a one-off basis.  It just helps to let people know that someone has been home recently. 

6.Unplug electronics and small appliances

  • It’s just a safety precaution, but it’s a simple and easy one.

7. Make sure your smoke detectors are working correctly

  • Double check and run the emergency test for your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Replace any batteries that need to be changed.

8. Turn off your main water valve. 

  • No one wants to come home to a flooded house and unless you have a friend checking on your home everyday or your have a security system, there’s no better way to ensure this than just shutting off the main water valve.  Definitely test to make sure it works properly before just doing it.

9. Take out the kitchen trash 

  • Learn from my experience from forgetting once.  Please remember to take out the trash before you leave!

10.Try to use up food in your fridge

  • Try to use up as much as you can in your fridge, but for the few things you might not be able to, consider Rubbermaid FreshWorks line, especially if it’s just a weekend getaway.

Rubbermaid FreshWorks now has new size containers that help to keep produce fresh up to 80% longer*. With it’s patented FreshVentTM technology, these containers naturally regulate the flow of oxygen and CO2 along with the CrispTrayTM that elevates produce away from moisture. It’s a win-win to help reduce spoilage and keep you saving money. The Rubbermaid FreshWorks container line now is available in six different sizes for all your produce needs:

  • Large Square (11.1 Cups): Perfect for Tomatoes
  • Long Rectangle (8.4 Cups): Great for asparagus or zucchini
  • Small Rectangle (4.0 Cups): Will keep your green beans fresh.
  • Small (2.5 Cups): Ideal for small berries.
  • Medium (6.3 Cups): Perfect for strawberries.
  • Large (17.3 Cups): Optimal for leafy greens.

GIVEAWAY!

*Based on strawberries in FreshWorks™ containers vs. store packaging. Results may vary depending upon produce and use.

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Our Quest to 50

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mazda USA in collaboration with DriveShop.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own.

If you’ve followed our blog for awhile, you know that our journey in parenthood hasn’t been the easiest.  My bout with postpartum depression and anxiety lead us to make the decision to not have any more babies. That decision was so difficult for us and we both would have ideally wanted another child.  We knew though that ultimately for our relationship and our kid’s lives that it was the best decision. And that’s what parenting is all about right?  Making hard decisions to end up with the best decision for our personally family.  After making that hard decision, we decided on something that would also be difficult, but also lead to a ton of memories and so much fun.

Our Quest to 50

Last year after our decision, we decided that we would make a goal to visit all 50 states with our girls by the time they are 18. We were going to stop making excuses and fit it into our budget to visit at least one new state every single year (hopefully more). Andrew has traveled more than I, but we both agreed that we don’t travel as much as we should.  We want our girls, especially as homeschoolers, to get out and explore their world and not be stuck in a handful of states.

After our initial conversation, we didn’t talk much about it. Then, we received an invitation to Disney this year.  We started up our conversation again and decided that we really needed to make it happen. One state was being crossed off our list for the year with our Florida trip, but we also realized that in order to make it to all 50 before the youngest turns 18, we need to do more than one a year.

The Requirements

Honestly, we’re still working on what will count as an official visit.  We initially said that it would be an overnight stay, but we’ve been to a few states with the girls already (Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New York for example) where we’ve spent a day, but not necessarily an entire night.  I would count this as visiting the states, but if we make an overnight stay the requirement, then those wouldn’t count.

So, here’s what we’ve decided for now:

  • Airport layovers can’t count
  • Have to spend at least 2 hours in the state during daylight hours
  • Complete one activity in the state that we can’t find somewhere else
    • For example – we can’t eat at a National chain restaurant and it count. But a zoo or aquarium that is only located in that state would count
  • Have to physically get out of the car
  • Have to take a photo at a landmark that identifies the state in some way
  • We don’t have to all take the same trip for it to count

From this point on, we also want to grab a postcard and create something with them, but we haven’t done that up to now.

Where are we currently?

Technically, according to our requirements, we’re at five. We’ve never gotten postcards at any of the states we’ve visited, and a few we’ve been to we haven’t taken a photo or done an activity, so this is a pretty fresh start.

Before we made these requirements, the baby has been in 7 states and the big girl in 9. However, we’re excited to start fresh with these requirements and see where our trips will take us.

Safety and Comfort Matters

We know for a lot of our trips, we’ll be driving and we know that comfort counts.  We recently had the opportunity to check out the 2017 Mazda CX-9 and we loved it.  It starts at $31,520 and the fully loaded model was $45,655.  It’s visually gorgeous inside and out.

The Mazda CX-9 is a is a mid-size crossover SUV that has an option third row allowing seating for up seven.  Our travel possibilities are endless with the CX-9’s all-weather capability including i-ACTIV all-wheel drive. Traveling with littles can be scary, but I loved that the CX-9 has six airbags to protect those in all three rows, as well as blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. I also was thoroughly in love with a new feature I haven’t seen before. The speed limit and your speed are displayed directly on the windshield. No more looking down or wondering what the speed limit is currently. Learn more about the Mazda CX-9. 

We can’t wait to see where our travels take us next and hope you’ll travel along. 

 

I Keep It Moving For My Daughters

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dramamine(R). The opinions and text are all mine.

You ever feel left out?

Kind of like… maybe everyone forgot about you?… Or even like your holding everyone back? The feeling is a bit indescribable. I could only sum it up as a degree of loneliness. It’s crazy the things you will try to tell yourself too with the goal to make that emptiness go away. You think… “oh, that’s childish.” Then, you do this sigh mumble thing saying “you go head, I’m perfectly happy right here”. As you try to enhance your tone at the end of the sentence to sell the “happy”.

This was my childhood… in theme parks, boat rides, carnivals, you name it. As my older brother and father ran off to the next cool thing, I would hang with mom in the gift shop looking at key rings and overpriced tee shirts.

Motion sickness was not my friend.

I swear if I even stared at a ride too long nausea would come knocking on my esophagus. Looking back, I was the perfect mobile coat hanger, stroller pusher, map reading companion. Or at least that’s what I told myself to feel good about the fact that my parents spent money on me to come along.

Fast forward to now and this all changed.

So, I hear about Dramamine®! A motion sickness medicine! But hold the phone!!! I don’t do medication. I’M A CRUNCHY BABY! WAIT!!! WHAT DOES THAT SAY?????

Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals.

KEY WORD… NA-TUR-ALS!

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SOLD! I get me a box because Larisha is planning a family boat venture on the Jersey shore. And I am thinking… Maybe I don’t have to be cut out of this one. I don’t want to be cut out anymore. My own kids are involved now. Naturally, I want to experience those belly laughs and adventures right by their side.

I won’t lie… I was nervous. Last time I was on a boat…. I did not bring a food, but I still feed the fish….. If you know what I mean.

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A half hour before the trip, I took the Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals. Although it’s in a capsule, it taste just like ginger. Which I personally loved because that taste did not come off as a flavoring. It was as if I drank a soothing tea. I immediately started feeling very confident in the task I was about to approach.

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We also gave the girls some of the Dramamine® Kids line because the littles is already exhibiting lots of motion sickness signs and the big one got sick on a boat already. Nothing phases them though and my girls were continuously saying… “Daddy you coming, daddy you getting on the boat?”

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And there I was not even 20 minutes later right by their side on the boat as waves pushed it right to back, forward to left. No matter how unpredictable the ocean was, no longer was I alone watching everyone enjoying themselves. I was right there with my girls kicking pirates’ butt and showing them how daddy discovers the open sea!

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It was a magical day and I now know, armed with Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals, that I can hang with the big girls and do amazing adventures right alongside them. I can’t wait to see where our next adventure takes us.

Here’s some other shots from our amazing day:

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Normally, I would feel so nauseous that I would beg to go home and lay down the rest of the day. But not this time. I felt so good afterwards that we headed over a few blocks to the shore and we played in the water and sand the rest of the day.

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Are you ready to #KeepMoving? Grab Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals at your local store for a non-drowsy solution to motion sickness. One dose contains the full amount clinically-tested dosage of ginger needed to prevent and treat motion sickness. Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals is safe to use every day you travel by taking 30 minutes before starting an activity.

Hersheypark Just Got a Little Sweeter – Introducing BBLz ™

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Pepsi and Hersheypark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Sweet Memories

Growing up, I only got to go to Hersheypark once.  It was our 8th grade field trip.  Andrew says he only remembers going two, maybe three times. It was always weird to me that neither of us have been more often, because we both have such fond memories of our minimal experiences. Hersheypark is such a sweet place (pun intended), that I want to make sure that our girls experience it often. Last year, when we went, the baby was really too little to do anything, but Serenity had so much fun that she has brought it up dozens of times since last year, always wondering when we are going back again. It’s a much larger park than we were used too, so even with two days last year, we were all exhausted. We needed a re-do.

Planning the Sweetest Day Trip

Andrew’s work schedule has left minimal summer fun time available so far this year, but when we had a mid-week break, we went for it and drove to Hersheypark. We didn’t tell the kids until we were getting into the car and they were so excited. The baby still doesn’t really know what was going on, but her sister’s excitement got her really happy. I love seeing them enjoy thing together and I knew this year would be such a treat.

Tip: Before we headed out, I downloaded the Hersheypark app onto my phone.  It makes finding rides that the girls can do a breeze and I love seeing if there’s wait time before we head in any one direction.

The night before we left, we planned out our trip and decided on what we absolutely must have the girls do together.  We picked the perfect day.  It was literally gorgeous weather and we were so excited to do the water and dry rides together. Serenity grew a few inches over the past year, so she was able to ride the SooperDooperLooper ride, her first looped roller coaster, and her reaction didn’t disappoint.  We are so incredibly blessed to be able to make these memories together as a family.

Hersheypark Just Got a Little Sweeter – Introducing BBLz™ 

We always like to splurge a bit when we take trips like this. For example, the girls always get to pick some type of treat that they don’t regularly get to have at home- they usually pick cotton candy.  This year, before we even went, I knew what our special treat would be.  Pepsi, a proud sponsor of Hersheypark, introduced a new installment this year – BBLz™ (pronounced “bubbles”). You can easily find it directly across from Hersheypark’s newest ride – Hershey Triple Tower.

Bubble Makers (soft drink mixologists) create a unique one-of-a-kind beverage experience unlike anything you’ve tried before. Unique flavors and ingredients, including foam and candy, arend whimsically blended together for a fun treat! Each person in our family got their own BBLz™ creation.

We thought they were such a fun and unique way to combine the Pepsi brand with the sweetness of Hershey.  We definitely think everyone should have the unique experience of having their own BBLz™ too!

Even though BBLz™ are only in one part of the park, you can still enjoy delicious, refreshing Pepsi beverages throughout the park!  Try to check out the PepsiSpire digital beverage fountains where you can customize your own flavor creation with hundreds of different options! Of course, there’s Aquafina, too, which is especially refreshing on those extra hot days!

We can’t wait to hear what you do at your next Hersheypark vacation and what you think of the BBLz™ beverage experience.

6 Tips to Make Long Car Rides with Little Kids Easier

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Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias

Taking trips with kids can literally be the nightmare of a parent’s mind. There’s so much to pack, so much to figure out, so much chaos.

You’re not in Kansas anymore.

I remember the first time I need to pack for a trip with just one baby. I pulled out all my stuff and packed it in a bag. Personally, I like to pack light so I just had a super small bag. The started to grab the stuff that I needed for the baby and before I realized it, I had three different bags, a pack-n-play, a bag just for snacks, a booster chair, all her toys she “may need”…and more. I was exhausted and we hadn’t even started driving yet. It got worse when there were two of them.

Over the past 4 1/2 years, we’ve taken a few trips and while I definitely don’t think we are experts, I want to share with you some of our tips to keep young kids busy. Obviously, we all pray they will just sleep the entire time, but that’s never going to happen!

6 Tips to Make Long Car Rides with Little Kids Easier

  1. DVDs
    • Listen, I’m all for minimal screen time, but this isn’t the time for that to happen. Pop in a DVD and you an usually get an hour of quiet time. Make sure that you have enough different DVDs for the length of the trip.
  2. Tablets with New Apps
    • Again, I know, screen time.  Hear me out.  Sanity is more important on long rides than screen time.  Balance it with keeping them off the screen the entire vacation.  We love adding new apps that they haven’t seen before to their tablets so they have something that’s fun and shiny to do.
  3. Magnadoodles
    • These are great and mess free way of fun in the car. We love asking our oldest to draw what she sees out of the window onto her magnadoodle. If she gets bored with that, we ask her to draw something specific or even to work on her writing.
  4. Presents
    • Yup, presents! Listen, you don’t have to go broke.  Walk around a find a few dollar items at Walmart. Go home and wrap them in wrapping paper.  Kids love the element of surprise.  If this is a really long car ride, do one present every hour and tell them when the timer goes off they can have a new one.  They love it!
  5. Toy catalogs
    • Save the toy ads from the holidays that come from Walmart into your suitcase so you have them for your next trip.  When you are driving, hand your kids the catalog and a pen and ask them to go through and circle things they might like for their next birthday or holiday (whichever is closest to when you are traveling)
  6. Let them pick out their own special snacks.
    • Preferably something they know they love and then something that is new and special.

Bonus long trip tip!

You want to make sure you get to your destination as fast as safely possible. Minimal interruptions is what you are aiming for here. There’s nothing worse than your car breaking down while your kids are in the car. Make sure before you car that your car is ready and up to the challenge of a long ride. Head over to your local Walmart auto center and get your oil changed with Pennzoil® today.  While you are waiting for it to get done, you can grab your presents, let the kids pick out their own snacks, and grab any last minute vacation needs! This is especially important if you have a high mileage vehicle (over 75,000 miles). Right now Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil change is on roll back to just $35.88.  It helps clean out the sludge other oils leave behind, which reduces wear and tear to keep you running strong.

As we embrace for our longest car ride with them in a few weeks, I’m going to print this list to reminder my self to do them.  We hope these tips to make long car rides with little kids easier lets you enjoy your next trip! With less stress you can focus on what really matters – family time!

Poconos Are For Kids Too

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Poconos Tourism board.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Why did no one one tell me I was missing out on the Poconos as a family friendly destination? 

Watch our short recap video:

Truth moment. We’ve been to the Poconos only once and it was before we had kids. Andrew and I joined my dad and stepmom there one day they were there and went hiking at Bushkill Falls. It was so fun, but we’ve never been back. I’ve never really thought anything of it either. Recently, we decided to make the trek back.  Unfortunately, Andrew couldn’t get off work, so it was just going to be the girls and I. After telling my mom and sister we were going, I got a bit nervous.  Both of them immediately questioned why I would go there with the girls, wasn’t it a romantic getaway destination.

Truth. It’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, it absolutely has the ability to be a romantic getaway destination and full of serene moments that can take your breath away.  However, it’s always the most amazing time for a family, even one with smaller children.

The Poconos are for kids too! 

We started off our trip on Lake Wallenpaupack. We met up with Poconos Action Sports and took a boat ride out on the Lake and learned so much about the area. Poconos Action Sports also offers a host of other fun activities like jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, and more.`

Resort Fun.

After we had fun there, we headed to Silver Birches Resort. It’s a super quaint resort with a variety of rooms, including cottages.  It was recently remodeled after new owners took over.  It sits right on the lake and it’s stunning. Poconos Action Sports actually comes out and hosts sporting activities like canoeing and kayaking at Silver Birches so you don’t have to go anywhere. There’s a great restaurant just up the hill from the main office where you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Tip: Get the breakfast burrito or the pizza!  Other fun things at Silver Birches is the champagne toast and fire pits overnight and they have a playground for the kids.

After our stay at Silver Birches, we headed down the road to check out Skytop Lodge. This historic resort features 5,500 acres so there is literally enough activities available to keep the entire family busy.  They have a full day of kid’s activities planned (like reptile and painting classes), there’s an arcade, indoor and outdoor pools, inflatable lake activities, and more. A full golf course, tons of hiking trails, and more round out this resort.

One of our favorite things was went exploring the land and came across waterfalls right down from our room on the property. There’s a small hiking trail, a bench, and plenty of ability to have fun right there.

Another favorite was taking part in one of the moderate hiking trails. There was so much amazing beauty to be found on a short one hour hike. The girls loved seeing salamanders and I loved the scenery and calmness while we were out.

We absolutely loved our experience in the Poconos. Our girls had an amazing time and I truly learned the the Poconos are for kids too! We’re already figuring out how to make our way back there sooner than later.

Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom

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 Check out the awesomeness of Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom!

Growing up water parks were my jam (can I still say Jam?  Is that hip or nah?) Anywho…I loved them.  It was always a special treat to go to a water park when we were little. I waited what seemed like forever until I was tall enough that I could get on the water log rides. Imagine my excitement when I learned Serenity loved the water too. I knew she was going to be up for any water adventures in our future.  Luckily, she is and her sister has been too, though she’s still too little for most things.

SEE OUR SHORT VIDEO FROM WILDWATER KINGDOM HERE:

We were recently hosted and had the chance to check out Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom and the girls had so much fun.  It was a bit chilly since it was early June, but after the girls warmed up to the fun a bit, they had a blast.  The great thing about Wildwater Kingdom at Dorney Park is that there are so many things for kids to do beyond just rides, especially for little ones, like our Storm. They have designated kid areas all over Wildwater Kingdom that have sprinklers, waterspouts, smaller slides, and even a submarine.

Of course, if you have older ones, there’s plenty for them to do as well, including almost a dozen rides for those over 48″.

The girls (and their friend) loved the water spouts and trying to hide them or sit on top of them.  Another fun spot was the wave pool.  It’s always funny to me to see how much my girls love the waves.  To me, it seems, at that age, it might be a bit scary but they love it.  Next up in the kiddie area, was this insanely fun submarine where kids can go down a host of different slides and actually walk around inside the submarine. 

Lastly, is this gated (which I love as a parent) area called Water Works.  The girls ran around dumping and pouring water, going down slides, and more.  At the end of the day, they loved relaxing in the sun (Serenity says “sunbathing”) until they dried off.

They were all sad to go home, but we promised that we would be back around soon!

As always, Dorney Park pleases the entire family. Head to DorneyPark.com for ticket purchases.

Want to know more about Dorney Park?  See our adventures of past trips here.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY CEDAR FAIR ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLOG MEETS BRAND, AND I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED FOR MY PARTICIPATION. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Dorney Park – Our First Park Friend Experience

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Dorney Park holds a special place in our hearts. It was the first place that we went that had something for everyone and catered to our family’s needs. It’s our youngest child’s first amusement park trip and now, with this recent hosted trip, holds the place as the first place we took a friend with us.

See our fun trip in the video: 

I remember growing up that I always wanted to take a friend places with us.  I remember my sister being able to do it, but rarely remember being able to do it myself. There’s something so magically special about being able to experience fun with a friend. Andrew and I both knew that it was something that we wanted our girls to experience. Thankfully, we were able to sooner than later and it was everything I hoped for in a friend trip.

Side note: This trip to Dorney Park was also the baby’s first time riding a roller coaster! She’s hooked!

We allowed Serenity to take one of her best friends to the park and the joy of this first experience was magical. The joy on their faces throughout the day was something you hope stays everyday of their lives. They rode as many rides as they could across Planet Snoopy.  One reason that Dorney Park is a huge hit is that kids are able to ride everything in this one area.  It’s amazing as a parent because it reduces the heartache of having to tell them no to certain rides as we pass them by as we are walking.

Another reason we love Planet Snoopy is that the lines are short because it’s catered specifically to smaller kids, so there’s no reason for huge lines. Bigger kids are in other areas of the park riding bigger coasters and rides. There’s so many things packed into this area that you can quite easily spend the entire day just here. Between the rides and the shows, it’s endless entertainment.

****D E A L     A L E R T ****

June is the perfect month to head to Dorney Park. They’ve teamed up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to host Lemonade Days. Every online ticket purchase in June is kid’s pricing. That means you pay $39 per ticket – a $19 savings from buying tickets at the gate – PLUS $1 of every online sale goes to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Everyone wins!

Bonus Tip: Purchase the All Day Meal Plan online. It’s $31.99 per person and you can get a meal every 90 minutes. If you plan to eat inside the park, it’s really your best value. You can also save by grabbing the souvenir drinking cup! It’s just $10.99. Don’t forget, all tickets include access to Wildwater Kingdom! Rides + water = endless fun!

Head to DorneyPark.com to plan your trip today!

Upcoming trips for you to attend at Dorney Park:

  • Father’s Day Beef & Beer – June 18
  • Independence Day Fireworks – July 4
  • Christmas in July Breakfast with Santa – July 25
  • Food Truck Rally – August 26-27

What are you most looking forward too at Dorney Park? Leave a comment and tell us! Hope to see you there soon!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Our #1 Goal Before Summer Travel This Year

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Iris by Lowe’s. Thoughts & opinions 100% our own.

I finally feel like this is our summer of fun!  The girls are 4 and 2 years old and while we have to watch them closely still, we don’t have to coddle them constantly anymore.  We can go to amusement parks and both girls can go on rides this year.  Both girls enjoy waterparks, beaches, and more. We’ve know this is going to be a much more exciting summer than the last few and we’ve been preparing.  I mean, I’m FINALLY not pregnant or have a super small human child for the first time in almost 5 years. We’re beyond excited honestly.

But there’s been one thing nagging me.

We’ve already booked 5 trips to take place this summer. That means insanely busy.  That’s just the stuff already on the books, let alone things that come up.  Living 45 minutes from the shore means that any day could be a day trip down to the beach. It happens quite often honestly. I mean wouldn’t you? But as we took more day trips last year I keep having this nagging feeling. We have no additional security system. Every time I would leave the house to go on a trip, I would feel like we were putting ourselves at risk.

Growing up, I didn’t have a security system, but my family also lived in a small, quaint town where we didn’t even lock our doors some nights.  Things today are much different.  Not to mention the fact that we post and stream our lives daily, so when we do bigger trips, it means that people know we aren’t home. It’s always bothered me.  I’ve also been terrified of the trauma that could be left behind if we arrive home and someone had broken into our home. The trauma that a young child must face in that instance has to be insurmountable.

It’s all changing this year!

Actually, phase 1 is already completed. We received some fantastic security pieces from Iris by Lowe’s  , however the products from the collection are extremely affordable and we had everything set up in about an hour. Honestly, we’ve looked at this system for a few years now.  Iris was the first security brand we saw that had everything that we needed, and every time we go into Lowe’s (*cough* it’s almost weekly *cough*), we stop and admire the display that is set up. With so many trips planned, we know this year was the correct time to set it all up.

Some of the features that sold us on the Iris DIY smart home + security system by Lowe’s is:

  • Ability to connect all Iris-compatible smart devices through one app
    • Turn lights on and off, receive alerts from alarms, stream video feeds from cameras, etc. Automation events, like turn lights on when you walk in a room, are also available.
  • No long-term contract that professional security monitoring system require with the same benefits
  • Professional monitoring service only $14.95/month
    • Iris features a self-monitoring system completely FREE, a mid-tier system for $9.99/mo. or professional monitoring for $14.95/mo. – an affordable solution for all families
  • Over 100+ smart devices
    • Examples: sensors, switches, plugs, keypads, locks, thermostats, bulbs, alarms, detectors, garage openers, heaters, vents, and more
  • Completely customizable system to our family’s needs with endless possibilities
    • Examples – Get a notification if kid’s get home early, sirens sound when glass breaks, measures CO levels in your home, remotely monitor door locks, and more

The Iris Smart Hub is the heart of the Iris system.  This is what allows us to be connected with all the devices we currently have. Additionally, any devices we plan to add, can be connected. The smart hub helps you stay connected to all the devices in your home by the single Iris by Lowe’s app. Alarm Tracker™ is also a brand new feature that allows you to follow an alarm from the time it sets off to the time dispatch is sent. It’s an amazing feature that gives you even more peace of mind.

Reader Discount Alert

We are so excited about our family travels this summer now that we know we are protected. We’re hoping to help you feel even more safe this summer too. Right now you can use “MYIRISSECURITY” at the Iris By Lowe’s website and get 10% off any Iris starter packs and smart hubs. Offer valid 5/30-6/29/17.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Iris by Lowe’s. Thoughts & opinions 100% our own.

 

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander

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The time has officially came. We are in the market for a new vehicle.  We literally have no idea where to begin looking.  Part of me just wants a new car, the other part an SUV, the mom in me a minivan, and I’ve always dreamed of a pick-up truck. So here we are. Searching.

The Search Begins

We recently planned a “friend-cation” to Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos and thankfully Mitsubishi let us test drive the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC for our trip. We only have two girls and our family doesn’t plan to grow anymore, however we are looking for something that allows our girls to take a friend each with them on our travels. For this trip, Andrew wasn’t joining us, but my girlfriend and her two littles would be. The rest of the week that we had the trip would be just us seeing how we liked the vehicle.

I’ll admit I was a bit nervous when the car arrived. We had four kids in car seats – three of whom are rearfacing, plus luggage and food. The Mitsubishi Outlander has generous space for a small family when you have two children, but four children and luggage, it was going to be a tight fight. The optional third row can be:

  • down completely
  • up completely
  • one side can be left down while the other is up
  • or down completely with one side of the second row also down.

When the optional third row is up, there is limited trunk space. I didn’t measure, but I would roughly estimate it to be between 13-15″. There is extra space for belongings underneath also (this is where headrest are stored when not in use).

On road!! #greatwolflodge

A post shared by A Arnold (@mrs_aarnold) on

But we did it.

We were able to get the following into the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander:

  • 2 adults
  • 4 children in car seats (3 rearfacing, 1 in 5pt harness forward facing)
  • large duffle bag
  • average size suitcase
  • diaper bag
  • case of water
  • 4 canvas reusable shopping bags full of food
  • a day bag for the park (needed before we could check in)
  • a pack and play
  • a bumbo chair

and I’m sure a few other things I’m forgetting at the moment. It was crammed, but my friend and I were both pretty amazed that we got everything we needed into the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander.

We drove the almost 3 hours from my house to Great Wolf Lodge and finally arrived, amazingly barely using half a tank of gas. Score!

Once we were home and our friends were gone, we were able to see more about the features for just our family.  Our girls have been recently fighting in the back seat of our car. “Don’t touch me.” “You’re on my side”. Repeat. Constantly.

One of the best things about the optional third row was that I was able to keep our 4 year old in the back and the baby in the second row.  They didn’t argue once!  It was bliss! 

The last day that we were reviewing the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander, our oldest begged to sit next to her sister again.  They got along for about 3 minutes until I was ready to move her back again.  For that, the optional third row was pure blissful joy.

Let’s talk about the features: 

Some of these are optional features depending on ES, SE, SEL or GT 3.0 S-AWC models – 

  • Starting at $23,495
  • 25/30 MPG
  • Seats 5 comfortably with optional 3rd row for 7 total seats
  • 10 year/100k Miles Powertrain Limited Warranty
  • Forward Collision Mitigation System
  • Super All-Wheel Control
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert System
  • Blind Spot Warning and Lane Change Assist
  • Multi-View Camera System – 360 degree view
  • 7″ Touchscreen + Apple Carplay + Android Auto
  • LED Headlights
  • Heated front seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Front Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
  • premium Rockford Fosgate surround sound

  

Once we got home from our trip, we definitely enjoyed our little family inside. All the features were fun to play around with and I loved the sun roof on the warm days that we were getting as the weather warms up. I think if you have a small family who does limited traveling, this could be the perfect option for you (I’m already tired of the girls fighting again). 

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