Busch Gardens Tampa Bay presents the biggest names in contemporary Christian, gospel and Christian rock music select Saturdays in May. Glory at the Gardens is a jam-packed festival of music and fellowship on May 1, 8 and 15.

These top Christian acts will perform in Busch Gardens’ Gwazi Park beginning at 4 p.m. each day. The festival kicks off May 1 with Dove award-nominee Matthew West as well as Brandon Heath, who won the 2009 Dove Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year, and Jonny Diaz. Grammy-nominated group Skillet and Building 429 rock Busch Gardens on May 8. On May 15, Grammy and Dove winner Kirk Franklin – who is credited with being the leader of urban contemporary gospel – and 2010 Grammy nominee and former American Idol finalist Mandisa wrap up the series.

For guests looking for the perfect way to attend all Glory at the Gardens concerts at a great value, Florida residents can “Pay For LESS Than A Day” and come back all year for free with a 2010 Fun Card. For the cost of less than one day’s admission (when you buy online), guests can catch all the top acts during Glory at the Gardens, plus experience all the amazing animal encounters, world-class thrill rides, exciting entertainment and family adventure the parks offer with no blackout dates through Dec. 31, 2010.
A VIP Package, which includes lunch and reserved seating at the concert, is available.

Event dates, times and artists are subject to change and/or cancellations without notice. Please visit GloryAtTheGardens.com for concert schedule. Performances are included with any daily admission or annual pass.

Jordan and I will be attending the May 1st event and I will let you know all about it in the next few days.

She gives the best hugs and always makes everything better. She’s Mom and it’s her day! Spend breakfast or lunch with Mom at a Dine with Elmo and Friends in the new Sesame Street Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9. Breakfast is offered from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Your family will enjoy delicious food served buffet-style, character meet and greets with the lovable Sesame Street characters, family together time and a special treat for Mom. Both breakfast and lunch menus include items sure to please both parents and kids alike. One 6×8 photo with Mom, kids and your Sesame Street friends is included per family. Breakfast is $18 for adults and $15 for children. Lunch is $23 adults and $17 for children. Passmembers receive a 10 percent discount. Admission to the park is not included, but is required.

To make your family’s reservation, visit SesameStreetSafariofFun.com and click on Dine With Elmo to book the May 9 dine, or call 1-888-800-5447.

After filling up on hugs from characters and awesome food, enjoy family time playing together in Busch Gardens’ new Sesame Street Safari of Fun. The all-new, Sesame Street-themed sunny, funny play land premiered March 27 and is filled with kid-size rides, cool water fun, memorable adventures and shows that celebrate the spirit of Africa. Take a dive on Air Grover, the new junior coaster for parents and kids to ride together. Splash in Bert & Ernie’s Watering Hole, a wet adventure filled with bubblers, geysers, jets, dumping buckets and more. A photography studio offers photos with characters daily, and a musical stage show brings safari tales to life.

Busch Gardens has fun for the whole family to enjoy all day. With thrilling rides, award-winning shows and exotic up-close animal encounters, Busch Gardens provides unrivaled excitement for guests of every age.

When Flat Iron Experts asked me if I would be interested in doing a review of one of their flat irons I jumped at the chance. See, I’ve always wanted to try a flat iron on my rather straight hair to see what it would do but…I hadn’t had a chance to try one. They sent me the KQC Mini Ceramic Travel Flat Iron. It is so cute and little! It is only 6.5 inches long and fits in your purse or overnight bag.

From the website:

Ceramic Technology: KQC’s Ceramic Flat Iron plates are able to distribute heat across the entire surface evenly, retains heat more efficiently, and eliminates damaging hot spots. Ceramic plates radiates far-infrared heat to preserve more moisture within the hair shaft and causes less damage to the hair cuticle. It also emits negative ions, which eliminate static electricity and deliver shinier and sleeker results.

Negative Ion Technology: Negative ions are atoms that can stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, etc., resulting in healthier hair and scalp. Negative ion energy is powerful enough to break apart clusters of water molecules. The smaller water molecules penetrate into the hair shaft by slipping between the cuticles, adding plumpness/volume to hair. The bombardment of negative ions also closes the hair cuticle, which is very good for the health and appearance of the hair.

Features

• 1/2″ Ceramic Tourmaline plates
• 6″ long compact design (half of the normal flat iron)
• One heat setting – Heats to 400 F
• Fits in purse, convenient for touch-ups
• Perfect for short hair
• Ergonomically designed for ease of use
• Dual voltages to use around the world

One year warranty

I like the results I got from the KQC Mini. My hair had a very “finished” look to it. It had shine and the style lasted all day long…even in the Florida heat and humidity. If you are looking for a travel flat iron or a smaller flat iron for your daughter to be able to handle the KQC Mini is great and for only $39.95 you can’t go wrong.

Flat Iron Experts don’t just do flat irons, they have curling irons, blow driers and lots of haircare products so check them out for all of your Haircare needs.

The awesome people at Flat Iron Experts are offering all readers of The Mom Maven a 5% discount on their orders by using code “SALE5″ at check-out. So click on over to their site and get yourself a little something.

Disclaimer: I received a KQC Mini Ceramic Travel Flat Iron to review. All opinions are 100% mine.

This is a sponsored guest post written by Theresa Flavin on behalf of Havahart. Post powered by Sponzai.

Ahh, spring: The season of new life, new beginnings and, for many, utter frustration as a host of furry critters help themselves to our tender springtime blooms. It’s a near-universal problem for home gardeners, so Havahart® (http://www.havahart.com) has launched the new Not in My Yard blog (http://www.notinmyyard.com), where you can contribute posts, interact with other gardeners and get expert advice on taking your yard back from hungry wildlife.

Not in My Yard blog focuses on total yard protection through trapping and repelling animals humanely but effectively with Havahart products. Do you have a helpful or interesting experience protecting your yard and garden from the onslaught of hungry raiders? Submit it to Not in My Yard blog and let others know what worked. Top contributors are listed on the blog, so the more guest posts you submit, the better chance you have of seeing your name in lights. Chances are, there will be other Not in My Yard blog regulars with pest control problems similar to yours — and even other gardeners from your region. You can choose to show only their posts so you don’t miss the tips most relevant to your situation.

If posting on blogs isn’t your thing, Not in My Yard blog is the perfect place to learn about total yard protection. Expert and guest bloggers discuss controlling wild (and not-so-wild) animals of all types, including chipmunks, deer, dogs, feral cats, groundhogs, rabbits, raccoons, rodents, skunks and squirrels. You’ll learn about live trapping and using non-toxic, organic repellents to keep wildlife from viewing your yard as a trendy neighborhood eatery. You’ll enjoy interesting — and frequently humorous — stories about wildlife in other gardeners’ yards. And perhaps most importantly, you’ll see you’re not alone in your fight to protect your landscaping or garden.

Not in My Yard blog also features the live Havahart Twitter feed with helpful tips and promotional discounts on total yard protection products. You can subscribe to the RSS feed or submit your e-mail address for live updates whenever a new post is added to the blog.

“We’re excited to launch Not in My Yard blog,” said Havahart marketing associate Theresa Flavin. “This is the blog for everyone who has ever watched their tulips become rabbit food, lost their hostas to deer or wished the neighborhood skunks would find a different path to walk every night. We enjoy hearing the lively, fun and informative stories submitted by home gardeners just as much as the Not in My Yard blog readers do!”

Want to become an active part of Not in My Yard blog? Visit http://www.notinmyyard.com and join the conversation. Learn more about Havahart’s humane traps and repellents at http://www.havahart.com. And this spring, watch what Havahart total yard protection products can do to keep your home and garden beautiful.

Michael Jackson fans are all abuzz because today Walt Disney Parks made the long-awaited announcement….”Captain EO” will be returning to Epcot July 2, 2010.

Shortly after Michael’s death last June Disney fans started wondering if “Captain EO” would return as a tribute to Jackson and his long time relationship with Disney. Much to the dismay of east coast Disney fans the show opened Feb. 23, 2010, at Disneyland park in Anaheim, California leaving Walt Disney World guests wondering if they would ever get to see “Captain EO” again.

In case you don’t know about “Captain EO” it is a 17-minute space-fantasy 3-D film experience starring Michael Jackson that ran at Epcot from 1986-1994. It has somewhat of a cult following and can be seen, without the amazing 3-D effects, throughout YouTube. The video was directed by Francis Ford Coppola with George Lucas as Executive Producer. The musical score includes “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me.” “Captain EO is considered to be the first ever 4-D film experience, a genre which Disney has continued to perfect over the years.

There is no word as to how long this run of Captain EO will last but it will definitely bring some life back to the Imagination Pavilion area when it replaces “Honey I Shrunk the Audience” this summer.

I am a huge proponent on teaching kids to work and be responsible for the jobs that are assigned to them. This summer I plan to revise my “How To Get Your Children To Do Chores” series that I wrote a few years ago and share it here. I am always on the lookout for tools that help families do chores and track work that has been completed. Recently a friend of mine told me about an online chore chart called My Job Chart.

My Job Chart is a FREE online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. Using an easy and fun online system, My Job Chart inspires kids to do their chores on time. An interactive point system tracks your child’s progress, creating excitement and enthusiasm among kids. And the fully customizable chore chart allows you and your child to decide upon mutually determined rewards, fostering communication and developing responsibility. You even get an email or text message when your kids finish their chores or they earn a reward!

Do yourself a favor and go to My Job Chart, sign up for a free account and give it a try. You have nothing to lose and more responsible children to gain!

photo courtesy of Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove’s Mother’s Day Escape package is the perfect gift for a memorable Mother’s Day that includes something very “splashy” to show how much mom is appreciated — a “love note” delivered by an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

Located in the heart of Orlando, Discovery Cove provides a secluded, tropical retreat where families can enjoy extraordinary adventures through up-close encounters with exotic marine life and other animals. In the sparkling Tropical Reef, families can snorkel, swim and wade among thousands of tropical fish and hundreds of velvety rays. In the Explorer’s Aviary, guests can hand-feed more than 250 exotic birds. A winding river, sandy beaches and resort pool add to the paradise, but the highlight of Discovery Cove is the dolphin experience, where guests enjoy interacting with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins – for most, a dream come true. And for Moms, a dolphin delivers a personalized “love note” on a keepsake buoy for a fantastic finale.

In addition, this special Mother’s Day Escape package features Crabtree & Evelyn® La Source spa essentials gift basket, photo and frame, champagne and a private cabana, and is available April 26 through May 9, 2010 for $329. Package prices are in addition to park admission and require the purchase of at least one dolphin-swim, which start at $199 per person, plus tax.

With approximately 1,000 guests per day, guests can enjoy the all-inclusive benefits of a light continental breakfast, freshly-prepared lunch, as well as snacks and beverages throughout the day. Other park amenities include complimentary snorkel gear, towels, lockers and parking, as well as a 14-day, unlimited-use pass to SeaWorld or Aquatica in Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

For those looking to “wow” Mom this Mother’s Day, visit DiscoveryCove.com or call
1-877-434-7268 to make a reservation.

Summer is the perfect time for reconnecting with family and friends and making memories that will last a lifetime.  And now, SeaWorld Orlando is rolling out an offer that comes at the perfect time for vacations and allows families the chance to make a real difference for wildlife conservation.

Now through Dec. 31, 2010, with each full-paid, SeaWorld Orlando single-day, adult admission purchased online, any child age 12 and younger gets a $5 admission, all of which goes to fund non-profit organizations that are working right now on wildlife conservation projects.  Families even can choose which wildlife conservation effort receives their donation.

“This offer makes it easy for families and friends to reconnect during a vacation, a getaway or even just a day trip to one of our parks,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “At SeaWorld, families experience amazing up-close animal connections that can’t be found any place else.  And we believe a greater respect for the world we share follows a visit to one of our parks.”

And with so much new to do at all of the SeaWorld parks, there’s never been a better time to visit. At SeaWorld Orlando, fans can brave Manta, an all-new flying roller coaster and the only one of its kind in the world.  It’s a seamless blend of up-close animal encounters with a head-first, face-down thrill ride that’s sure to top the must-see lists again.

This summer, the nights are cooler and the atmosphere is hotter during SeaWorld AfterDark, when the park transforms daytime favorites into nighttime spectacles.

SeaWorld AfterDark showcases the park in a whole new light, with a nighttime rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza, a high-energy Shamu show, a hilarious sea lion show and a mystifying fireworks finale. That’s in addition to being able to experience all that’s awesome day and night, like Manta, up-close animal encounters and spectacular shows. SeaWorld AfterDark begins May 29 and continues through Aug. 15. Whether day or night, SeaWorld Orlando is the place to be this summer for a one-of-a-kind experience.

“We know the economy’s been tough for everyone, but more than ever before, everyone needs to spend time together,” Atchison said.  “We think families also will have fun deciding which wildlife conservation project gets their donation, too.  It’s a wonderful way for kids to learn about the work that goes on to save animals in the wild.”

For important details on this offer and to buy tickets, go to SeaWorldCares.com.

Hi, I’m Cindy and I am addicted to soda…(your turn…”Hi Cindy!). Anyway I have been addicted to Mt Dew and Coke for years and nothing diet or caffeine free here, I want full strength or nothing at all. Well I am proud to say that today is day 8 of no soda…and my kids are still alive (hee hee). For the 2 weeks prior to the start of the Move It and Lose It Challenge I had begun weaning myself off the caffeine (I don’t drink coffee or tea so soda was it), knowing  would have to cut it out of my diet if I was going to succeed at this challenge. I haven’t had any headaches…due to weaning myself down!

I LOVE working with Pete Cohen his coaching is gentle and positive and I am learning a lot. I succeeded in eating well and making wise choices. My new favorite breakfast is the Morning Sunshine Protein Smoothie from the All Whites website. I woke up this morning to realize I was out of Chiquita bananas for my smoothie this morning The smoothie fills me up with fruit and protein and keeps me going all morning. I have also gotten in all of water every day-a minimum of 2 liters each day! I am still struggling with fitting workouts into my schedule but I did get in 3 this week!
So there is the lovely scale picture for the week and I am proud to announce that I am down 3 pounds this week for a total of 4 so far during the Move It and Lose It Challenge! I am also proud to announce that I am now a member of the Sistahood!

We love field trips, who doesn’t? As homechoolers we have gone on amazing field trips over the last 14 years including swimming with sting rays in the Cayman Islands, hiking through a rain forest in Jamaica, visiting Historic Williamsburg, Yellowstone National Park and the Kennedy Space Center, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, public school kids don’t get the awesome opportunities we do. School budget cuts are severely hurting field trip funding and we all know kids learn and retain a lot more by doing and experiencing than they do just sitting in a classroom. Well, Kraft Lunchables is stepping up to the plate to help 50 deserving classrooms experience amazing field trips. You can head over to Field Trips for All and nominate a deserving class. You can also watch the video in my sidebar for more information.

The “Field Trips For All” program is the first effort from the Lunchables’ new initiative- Project Potential. Aimed at empowering kids with opportunities that help them realize their full potential, Project Potential will provide enriching encounters kids otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to experience.