Ensure Safe Kids With Paw Patrol!

      NEW YORK–Nov. 4, 2019–PAW Patrol’s ‘mighty pups are ready to go, go, go’ and spread the word about the importance of taking steps to ensure kids’ safety through PAW Patrol Safety First!, a brand-new prosocial campaign created by Nickelodeon in participation with safety partner Safe Kids Worldwide.   Launching today, the multiyear program will focus on water safety, fire safety and road safety.  Michael Phelps, World Champion Swimmer and Water Safety Advocate, will serve as PAW Patrol Safety First! Global Water Safety Ambassador. PAW Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon, is currently the number one ranked preschool show on television.



     

Said Phelps: “I am proud to partner with Nickelodeon and the loveable PAW Patrol pups on the important issue of water safety for kids and parents. I was first introduced to swimming through a water safety program, as my mom was adamant that my sisters and I learn how to swim for safety purposes, and it influenced my decision to establish the Michael Phelps Foundation, which provides water safety instruction through our signature IM program. Teaming up with PAW Patrol and the Michael Phelps Foundation is a natural alignment, and I am looking forward to utilizing this partnership to bring the message of water safety globally to kids and parents in a way that’s easy and fun to digest.”

Sesame Street Turns 50! Star Studded Special on November 9th!

SESAME STREET’S HISTORIC 50TH SEASON KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 9TH, 2019, WITH A STAR-STUDDED PRIMETIME SPECIAL



Landmark season introduces a new child cast member and confronts the stresses and pressures faced by today’s kids



Celebrity guests include Chrissy Teigen, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, Misty Copeland, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, and many more



(October 15, 2019 – New York, NY) – Sesame Street got its start at the height of the civil rights movement and the war on poverty, in answer to a simple but powerful question: could television help prepare less advantaged children for school? In 1969, the show’s founders tapped researchers, entertainers, and other visionaries to create a “street” like no other, where colorful monsters, humans, and even grouches lived side by side. Today, Sesame Workshop – the nonprofit organization behind the iconic show, which has grown to reach kids and families in more than 150 countries and 70 languages – is proud to announce the start of Sesame Street’s landmark 50th season.

Lakeland- Our New Home

     So we have been in Lakeland Florida going on six months now. It is definitely different than the hustle and bustle of New York but we are getting used to it. I will be continuing on with my reviews of attractions all over the world- as I have always done- with a focus on Orlando, and Tampa and everything in-between. All the other pieces we provided will also still be here- basically, I am saying BABY we are back! Thank you so much for sticking with us during this time of personal and professional transition we love all you!

     For those of us that are- as they put it down here from " up north" I know you understand why people are starting to branch out into other places to live. High prices of homes, taxes, and cost of living are driving us out in droves. We didn't want to leave but we also would like a certain quality of life that just wasn't possible anymore in our area.  I never in my wildest moments thought I would leave New York, it was an impossibility- but we came to a point where we said enough is enough. So a job transfer here, a house buying excursion there and BAM hello Lakeland and Central Florida.

    When I think about our move I picture myself from Andy from Funny Farm (google it if you don't know what this movie is. Chevy Chase moves from the city to the country so he can focus on writing, but ya know fails- bloody fantastic!)  and in some ways it is true, it is more rural than I am use too. I mean for instance right now, as I sit on my Leni- which is a fancy word for patio- I can hear cows. I am not shitting you- in the distance, there are cows mooing, roosters.. ah, roosting and possibly a donkey and or dinosaur? There is just nature everywhere. Unlike funny farm though I have neighbors that I see and in most cases ignore- in true new york fashion-  they inturn ignore me as well as they too are from New York as well.  I am not kidding there are more New York transplanters down here than I ever expected. I would say one out of every 4 people I speak too- between the ages of 34-74- are from New York, or the tri-state area.  It seems that Lakeland's prime location of roughly 35 minutes from Orlando, and about an hour to Tampa, makes it the IT place for all of us northerners to move too. What's that old and complicated phrase- ah yes "LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION"- Lakeland has it but it also has a lot of community and heart! With an almost Brooklyn type feel to it   Lakeland is filled with fun things for the family, artisanal bars, cutting edge restaurants, breweries, farmer's markets, festivals, and so much more. Art plays a huge part of the community and the buildings are sprayed with Murals, paintings are hung on canvas all along the downtown area, and we just went to the town's first Art Festival held in Munn Park-  the small park in the middle of the Downtown area.
     I cannot possibly fit everything that is wonderful about Lakeland in just one post- mainly because I have only had one cup of tea this morning, but we will be posting reviews of the areas hijinks

, restaurants, and festivals along with the surrounding area. So if you are one of those going to be cold New Yorkers looking for their next step move- consider Lakeland- It's kinda like Brooklyn- but we won't hold it against them. :)

 
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Freebies at Disney World !

    As we have mentioned we have left New York for the Sunny Floridian lifestyle. Palm trees are swaying, huge dinosaur-like birds are walking by, and frogs are hopping into my pool like it has Lilly Pads. This also means, however, that this Disney family is finally able to enjoy the pass holder lifestyle. Any day any time we get-go to friggin Disney! Oh, yea baby!

Stop Judging people Grumpy!

   So being we live so close now I have joined numerous Disney related facebook pages, as one does. Disney Magic, Disney Passholders, Moms of Disney- etc, etc. Most of the people who post are super friendly, sharing their experiences with their pictures tips and tricks. It is really nice to see a community of people sharing a common interest come together. That being said there are also a lot of assholes in these groups.  I cannot believe the number of people that are on a page dedicated to a place that calls itself "the happiest place on earth" that are real Grumpys if you know what I mean! 
   In a more recent post, this first-time visiter posted about possibly getting something for free as it was their first-time visit. Something along the lines of a welcome package. Some hotels, resorts, etc do- do this, so I am not surprised about the question. OH MY GOD the amount of sarcasm and just plain mean comments that came after it! I was actually in shock. Why do people feel the need to be so nasty- well that is for another article. So before I give you guys my list of freebies that I have scored during our visits I want to just say something.
     There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to know what you can score for free- from any place at any time. Seeking 'freebies', as I call them, is not asking for a handout, it's seeing what a place will give you just for attending. Most places will not advertise freebies as then they need to shell out more money in order to fund them, but for the frugal and fun minded people out there who take the time to look for them- good for you enjoy that score!
    My last comment on this subject is that TMG was actually founded on the premise of finding free or low-cost things to do with my kid. I found it absolutely crazy how much venues charged for child-related activities. How anyone could afford to go out into the world of entertainment with more than one child and not have to work three jobs to pay for it is still beyond me. I made a career out of it. So to all those naysayers  'nanananpoopoo to you'! I know I am not only frugal but mature as well. Ok so without further ado- here is my list. Please feel free to add to it in the comment list! I will be finding more and more things and will be adding them as I see them as well!

                 
                                Get Free Transportation Post Cards
* Transportation cards- a fun little collection for the kiddos. The postcards have pictures of all the different kinds of transportation they have at Disney World. So far we have the Monorail and the ferry These cards are carried by some cast members that work on the monorails, buses, ferries, and car lot transport. You can also go to gues services at each park and ask if they have any available there.

                                  Get A Free Sorcerers of Magic Card Game! 
*Sorcerers of The Magic card game at magic kingdom. This is an interactive role-playing card game that you play all over the Magic Kingdom. The cards feature beautifully drawn original artwork of various Disney and Pixar characters. You then use these cards to fight Disney Villians that are scattered all over the park in interactive Windows. When you walk into MK go on over and make a pit stop at the Firehouse. Go inside enlist in the fight to villains and help save magic as we know it! Each member of your party can register and will receive a pack of five cards and a beautiful map. You will all be registered to play and will walk through a fun tutorial.  The game is fun, and the cards make amazing souvenirs! Each day you are in the Magic Kingdom you can claim another pack of cards per person- you just need to play a round of the game first- then head back over to the firehouse and get our next pack. There are sixty cards in the collection, and you can get fifty of them by just collecting your free pack of cards when you visit.
     *I have a trick to scoring two packs of cards on your first run at the game. After you set up your account and receive your first free pack of three cards go play a couple of rounds of the game. Then before you leave for the day or at least an hour before the park closes go head back over to the Firehouse. Ask them if it's possible to see if you can claim your pack of cards. They may remember you from earlier and not want to run your account- but if they do you will score another pack. The system recognizes your ability to claim a pack of cards after you log into the portal on the day you are at the park, registering does not count as logging into the portal. This loophole scores you a total of six free cards on your first day! SCORE!

                                    Go On A Pirate's Adventure! 

  *Captain Jack Sparrow is in need of help! He needs you to go on a scavenger hunt around adventure Island and get him out of a fix.  During your trip to The Magic Kingdom make sure you stop by the Crew Nest- which is outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Register with the pirate on deck and get your beautiful
treasure map. Follow it on five different hunts, after each one is complete go back to the nest to collect your card. Collect all five cards and get a fast pass! This is free to do, it is
interactive and a great way to kill time between rides or just something fun to do! The pirates can be stingy with giving out more than one map per family so just go up separately this way all the kids can get their own maps!

                                     Jungle Cruise Souvenir
   * Did you know that the Jungle cruise has a cute totally framable map that they just give away! Well, now you do. Go to the kiosk where they check-in for your fast past or walk in the standby line and ask them if they have any maps on hand. It's completely free and very fun! They will even give you another one if you mistakenly put your gum into it thinking it was a napkin. Not that that happened to me...ok it happened to me.
 

                                   Get a Drivers License and Pilots License!

   *Ok so they won't really let you legally drive a car or pilot a plane but they are really really cute. In Tomorrow Land go to the speedway, at the kiosk where the standby and fast pass entries ark ask the cast members out front if you can get your very own Mickey License. They will either fill out the names on it for you or surrender the pen over so your husband can put a loving message of "we kicked your butt" on your very own keepsake. Yep ladies he is a keeper.
  Ready to take aviation on? Head over to Dumbo and ask the crew members at the kiosk for your pilot's license! They will do the very same thing and maybe laugh when your husband writes that "Jenn is afraid of Dumbo" on yours. He is the worst.

                                   Recipes For Mom And Dad
   *At the customer service desk of any park, they may have some great recipe cards from various restaurants at that park. Take one, or all they have on hand! Pretty neat.

                                   PIXIE DUST
  *Another one for you at the Magic Kingdom. Want some of that crazy pixie dust you see in little princesses and princes' hair but do not want to shell out the coinage to get the kids the updo. Head on over to one of these three places and get some sparkle in that mane!
         *Wait in line for Tinkerbell at the Town Square Theater. She will lay some pixie dust on you!
          *Castle Couture Shop In FantasyLand. Ask one of the Crew Members and they will be happy
to oblige.
           *Harmony Barbershop which is on Main Street right by the Firehouse where you get your         Magic Cards!!!

                                



   Kidcot at Epcot!
 
             *Kidcot is an area designed in each of the 11 countries of Epcot with the kids in mind. They have a fun little activity station where kids can color, do a traditional craft and even learn a couple of new words! At the gift shop for about $13 you can get a passport and have it stamped at each country at this station. The Cast Member may even write your child's name in that language leave a little note like 'Happy Birthday ' If they are wearing a pin etc. If you do not have the cash to purchase the passport, do not fret! You can make your own and the Cast Member will still stamp it for you! A great immersive experience for the kiddos and adults alike!
 
                     

      There are plenty of other things that I haven't yet listed but these are ones that are tried and true! Keep coming back for new posts and new freebies! See ya real soon!
           

TMG HAS MOVED!!!

    Ok as most of you guys know we were in a transitional period for the last year or so! It seems insane but we are no longer in new york- but have moved to FLORIDA! Talk about a fish out of water- this New York family has traded in skylines for palm trees!  For now, at least we couldn't be happier! We will still be reviewing the toys, games and family fun that you are using too- but we will be more travel related than local! We cannot wait to share with you all our favorite experiences and tips coming up in our new grand adventure!

Great Stocking Stuffers and Hanukkah Gifts!

   
We all know that Wreck It Ralph is the hottest new movie right now! For good reason! Well now you can collect your favorite characters, with the Disney's Ralph Breaks The Internet Power Pac Figure 2 Pack-Series 1. Each pack comes with one figures, in a blind box (fancy) they are 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall highly detailed. and comes with a transparent display base. As an added bonus you can add these characters to the  Pac-Man: Ralph Breaks the Maze App for some awesome toy to video game action that I love! Great for stocking stuffers for fans of all ages!


    Who says that Yo-Yo's cannot be customized! With the Hyper Cluster Yo-Yo Starter Pack you can bring this classic toy to the next level! Each set includes a core th

at will either enhance performance in a SPEED, STAMINA, or LOOP category. There are also different Skins to decorate to your liking and make it extra awesome! Each set includes two Stamina Skins, A Control Core with precision bearings, a Cluster Cable and a High Performance yo-yo string! Very neat! 











 Smashy Mashy are new awesome collectibles, That come in a ooze reveal canister (the ooze stays in the packaging parents I know you will be happy with this!) and once opened reveal a squishy buddy, an accessory secret file, sticker and a chain so you can hang it around your book bag! Very fun, and great to be hung in the stockings with care!


Sticky Poop, Yes you are reading that right, and yes you know allllll the kids are going to love it because no matter what one thing remains true. Poop is funny. This emoji styled poop is a tacky mold-able
stress ball that you can fling on the wall and it will stick, which is just kinda hilarious when you thing about it. Great for kids, and for those who while at work wouldn't mind throwing around the sh*t in a semi literal way. This is just a funny little thing that will create a lot of laughs.





Stikbots are not only still around but are better than ever. This Holiday season you can buy a bunch of Stikbot Dino Eggs. Each one includes one species of Dino but hours of imaginative play and various appearances in your child's Stikbot stop motion videos!  Is there anything else to add other than
the obvious- they are awesome!

       This season I have found that interacting coding toys are the best things around. That includes the fantastic new Cubelets Discovery Set.  This is he newest set that is packed to the brim with robot building fun for ages four and up. Which is just fantastic.

 For those of you who are new to the company- Cubelets are palm sized blocks of software filled hardware. Each of the cubes have a different functions which when put together create coding magic!  Coding is not necessarily a new thing in the toy world. However we are coming to a point where it is being conceptualized in a way that makes it user friendly for the whole family at a point price that allows many families able to afford it. This is fanatasitc because I like many other people understand that coding may soon be one of those skills everyone will need to have a general knowledge of.
    With Cubelets you explore different combinations in order to make your robot perform certain skills.  What makes this toy unique is that you  are using your physical building cubes to create that code so it can preform the intended task. Crazy right, it is literally a hands on way to learn code!
Want to hear something even crazier? They are magnetic so there are no screws to attach and detach, no "Mommmmm can you help me" nothing. They can do it all themselves! I think it is just the bees knees.
      The set also includes the Bluetooth Hat which will pair your robot constructions with wireless devices in the surrounding area. Using this feature you can add different abilities via the Cubelets app.
   Speaking of the App. This feature is not needed for all the fun but definitely enhances it. It is, in essence your portals inside the cube! A direct link to the software inside! You can use it to manipulate individual cubes and change your already constructed robot completely.  You can make pre-existing code and store it in the app and then with a touch of a button use the personality swap to change the code 123. There are also attachments that let you add Lego (or off brand Lego) bricks onto your robot making it as creative as you want. Personalizing both what is inside and outside of your robot! It becomes truly your own.
  Sounds pretty fantastic I know, but what I really love- other than just playing around with it, is the fact that it can grow with your child giving him or her years of enjoyment and learning. A Four year old will learn the basics of the Robotics, as well as cause and effect where a 7 and older will learn more about pattern recognition, critical thinking or design and engineering. This is a "toy" that will open up the world to your youngins for years to come. So if you are going for long lasting, educational, fun, and something you can do with your whole family- Look no further it has arrived! Available on Amazon and is on sale right now!