Back in April I did have the best chocolate chip cookie of my life from Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs. I’m working on a post about the entire experience but I will say this, that half pound cookie was worth the 4 hour wait and the $6.00 price tag! Next time you are at Walt Disney World, you should check it out.

Win it Wednesday Giveaway Linky Rules

Those bloggers and VAs who do not follow all of these rules will be removed and blocked from future participation in this linky.

1. Make sure the link is to the giveaway post, not the home page of your blog. Links to home pages will be deleted.

2. Put the end date in the title of your giveaway.

3. Link to an image of the prize, not your blog button.

4. No more than 3 giveaways per website per week please!

5. If you post a giveaway enter at least one giveaway someone else posted. This is just one way to play nice with others

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The post Win it Wednesday Giveaway Linky 8-4-21 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Adventure Island, Tampa’s premier waterpark located across the street from Busch Gardens, kicks off its 2020 season on Friday, March 13, with the opening of a RECORD-BREAKING NEW water slide, Solar Vortex – America’s FIRST dual tailspin water slide. In preparation for the park’s opening, Brandon Thom, Adventure Island’s new Vice President, is sliding into his role with a “ride of passage” on the newest attraction.

“Adventure Island is heading into its 40^th splash-filled season and we couldn’t be more excited to kick-off 2020 by adding America’s first dual tailspin water slide to our portfolio of slides,” said Thom. “As a family raft slide, Solar Vortex packs a bigger thrill than I was expecting – the high speed generated by the tailspin feature really amps up the ride journey. Along with Adventure Island’s many slides, pools, and splash zones, Solar Vortex is sure to make 2020 our best season yet.”

Solar Vortex debuts new water slide elements unlike any other attraction at Adventure Island. The high-thrill family raft slide combines high-banking rotations and rapid descents, sending sliders on a swirling journey through two open tailspin features. Solar Vortex will also include three dynamic AquaLucent elements – harnessing the power of the Florida sun into colorful patterns that shine through the slide as riders reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Pass Member Preview

Adventure Island Pass Members get the EXCLUSIVE first chance to preview the new ride when the park opens for the season on Friday, March 13. Only Pass Members can experience Solar Vortex by presenting their ID and Pass at the park entrance. If you haven’t gotten one yet, go to www.adventureisland.com/annual-pass to buy a pass NOW!  The ride will open to the public on Saturday, March 14.

Solar Vortex shines brightly near Splash Attack and the Rambling Bayou lazy river. Adventure Island has 10 sliding attractions in total, many featuring multiple unique slide routes, in addition to wave pools and soak zones for guests to enjoy. NEW for the 2020 season, guests can purchase an All-Season Quick Queue Unlimited granting unlimited priority access to the major slides, including Solar Vortex. Go to www.adventureisland.com/upgrades/quick-queue to get your All-Season Quick Queue Unlimited NOW!

Get Your Fun Card Now

The best way for guests to experience Adventure Island all season long is with an Annual Pass or Fun Card. Annual Pass Members receive 12 months of unlimited visits,FREE parking, priority access to Solar Vortex, merchandise and dining discounts, and special limited-time perks throughout the year. Or until 3/31/2020 Florida families can purchase a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2020 Fun Card and get an Adventure Island 2020 Fun Card for FREE. This limited time buy- one-get-one FREE offer provides unlimited access to TWO parks until December 31, 2020.

The post Solar Vortex at Adventure Island Opens March 13 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Gather your family and meet your festive friends at SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration, taking place from November 23 through December 31. For five weeks only, the park is transforming into a winter wonderland with more than 3 million sparkling lights. Experience award-winning entertainment, from the ALL-NEW Sesame Street Christmas Parade to seasonal shows like O Wondrous Night; rub noses with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; or head to Wild Arctic and visit Santa himself. Also NEW this year, park-goers have the added chance to dine with jolly ol’ Saint Nick over a sumptuous holiday meal with the help of his Kitchen Elves. Don’t miss the unforgettable Christmas Celebration you can only find at SeaWorld.

Holiday Shows

• Experience the power and beauty of killer whales in our nighttime holiday show: Miracles^TM. From the sweeping vocal majesty of a unique soundtrack to the visual majesty of SeaWorld’s killer whales, Miracles will take you on a stirring voyage into the heart of the holidays.
• In O Wondrous Night, enjoy a live nativity complete with more than 30 carols, life-sized puppets and animals in a spectacular Christmas favorite based on The Christmas Story. Told through the eyes of the animals that were there, O Wondrous Night is a touching, light-hearted and glorious musical with a host of angels, animals and the true glory of Christmas.
• Christmas comes to life on a stage of ice, jewels and lights as skaters dazzle and delight in a show-stopping, ice skating extravaganza. A sea of sparkling trees and towering fountains dancing in the background come together to create a don’t-miss experience for the holidays that the entire family will enjoy.
• Excitement is also running high for Sea Lion High’s Christmas pageant, join the students and faculty of Sea Lion High for their hilarious new Christmas Special.  
• Join Santa’s elves and this festive team of adopted dogs, cats, birds, rats and even pigs as they work together, play together, and create heart-warming holiday memories in an all-new SeaWorld Pets Ahoy experience.

Special Events

• Returning for another year of festive fun, guests can immerse themselves in the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Rudolph’s ChristmasTown. Stroll past life-size story book vignettes featuring the classic tale, and meet beloved characters including: Rudolph, Clarice, Bumble and Yukon Cornelius.
• As part of SeaWorld’s transformation into a winter wonderland, don’t miss the all-new Sesame Street® Christmas Parade, with fantastic floats decorated for the celebration.
• Guests of all ages can also share wishes and dreams with Santa Claus while exploring SeaWorld’s Wild Arctic this Christmas. Experience amazing animal encounters and a heart-warming visit with Santa in a holiday adventure.
• Take a stroll through a wintery, watery wonderland immersed in a Sea of Trees that sparkle to music as they light up the water. Dazzling images come to life on over 100 trees, including a giant glistening centerpiece that towers 70 feet above the water. Walk along the water’s edge for some holiday shopping at the Shoppes at Waterfront as a magical flurry of snow falls over SeaWorld Orlando while holiday sounds and smells fill the air.
• Next, nestled along the park’s Bayside Pathway, The Christmas Market features festive entertainment and delicious culinary delights. Complete with playful elves, a charming model train village and seasonal entertainment, the market is the centerpiece of SeaWorld’s Christmas event. Plus, relaxation is in order near the warm glow of the fire pit with a holiday cocktail while experiencing a wonderful view of the vibrant Sea of Trees.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration Dates and Ticket Info

You can enjoy SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration on select evenings in November and December. The best way to experience SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration and New Year’s with family and friends is with a SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass or Fun Card. For a limited time, Florida residents can become a Pass Member for as low as $10.25 per month, with offer ending on December 3. Pass Members receive park benefits and rewards, including priority access to new attractions, FREE parking, in-park discounts and much more. And for those guests who prefer the Fun Card, should they purchase a 2020 Fun Card, they can enjoy the rest of 2019 for FREE.

• November 23-25
• November 29
• December 1-2
• December 6-9
• December 13-16
• December 20-31

SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration is a Central Florida Must-Do. If you are visiting make sure you add it to your travel itinerary.

The post SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration 2019 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

This recipe makes one batch of brownie mix but it can be easily multiplied to make several gift mixes at one time. I will warn you, there was one item I needed to make it easier to prepare this recipe, a larger steel mesh strainer. The strainers I have are both small and heart shaped, not adequate for this job, especially if you are multiplying your batch size. The three pack I linked to above will meet your kitchen needs just fine.

This mix fits perfectly in a pint sized mason jar.

Print

Super Moist Brownie Mix.

I love moist, chewy, sometimes gooey brownies and that is exactly what you get from this Super Moist Brownie Mix.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword brownies, gift mix

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 9 brownies

Author cindy

Ingredients

Brownie Mix

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

To Bake the Brownies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Brownie Mix

• Using a medium strainer, sift together the cocoa powder, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
  
• Place into a pint sized mason jar and close the lid.
  
• Attach the baking instructions below, or print out my tag.
  

To Bake the Brownies

• Preheat oven to 350°.
  
• Spray an 8x8" or 9x9" baking pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  
• Take the eggs out of the refrigerator so they can come up to room temperature.
  
• Melt the butter and allow it to cool a bit.
  
• In a medium bowl beat together the 2 eggs and the vanilla.
  
• Pour the brownie mix into the butter mixture. Stir until combined.
  
• Pour the butter into the brownie mix. Stir until just incorporated.
  
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
  
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until done.
  

Notes

If you would like to add walnuts, chocolate chips, or peppermint chips to the recipe, go for it!

If you are going to use this as a gift mix, you need a recipe card. If you would like to download the pdf of the image below, please click HERE.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and all of the easy recipes I share here on The Mom Maven. I hope you share them on your social networks. I just ask that you not copy and share the entire recipe with photos. Please use the sharing buttons below and share the link to this post. Thanks!

The post Super Moist Brownie Mix Perfect for Gifting appeared first on The Mom Maven.

One part of folding clothes that drives me crazy is matching Ron’s socks. He lives in white athletics socks except on Sunday mornings when he wears dress shoes to church. Anyway, he buys a new package of socks a few times a year and he buys what’s on sale so he switches brands regularly. Matching all the different white socks with different color thread at the toe or a grey heal drives me insane. When I was asked to review the SockSync Sock Sorter I thought it was a bit silly, but I agreed to give it a try.

About the SockSync Sock Sorter

Ergonomic Design: SockSync is lightweight and ergonomically designed to perfectly fit into your laundry day routine. It features a combination of a laundry basket and a spinning top, aka Spinner. The Spinner houses eight cylindrical openings, the SockSync Cups, that are designed to perfectly fold a pair of socks and positioned to drop them right into the basket.
Quick, easy, and fun to use: The spinning feature makes it effortless to scroll through the single socks as you search for their match. Once a match is found you simply push the pair together into and through the opening, which folds the pair and drops them into the basket. After the spinning and matching is done, you’ll have a basket full of paired and perfectly folded socks ready to be put up. SockSync makes sock matching quick, easy and even fun!
Laundry basket included: The Spinner is removable. Once you’re done matching the socks, you can take it off and use the basket as a traditional laundry container or to store the folded socks in.
One of a kind: SockSync is the first and only product that provides a patented solution to the hassle of sock sorting & matching. There’s nothing out there like it!
Innovation Award finalit: The International Housewares Association (IHA) has nominated SockSync as an Innovation Award finalist. SockSync was also featured on the NBC Today Show along with several other media platforms.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

I used the SockSync to match and fold all of our socks last week and I have to admit, it has merit. I don’t personally need this item, since there are going to be only 2 of us at home in just a few weeks, but this would be perfect for a mom who is matching socks for the whole family. If I had this when my kids were young I can see making a game out of who can find the match and then they “get to” fold it up and push it through! Order your SockSync Sock Sorter today!

The post SockSync Sock Sorter Review appeared first on The Mom Maven.

When Disney kicks off its Incredible Summer over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, guests will kick up their sandals to nonstop fun, immersed in favorite Disney films, entering the worlds of beloved characters and experiencing exciting new attractions and entertainment.

Incredible Summer at the Magic Kingdom

At Magic Kingdom Park from May 25 through Sept. 3, favorite Disney•Pixar Super Heroes will take over Tomorrowland as part of the Incredible Tomorrowland Expo that celebrates all things super. Guests will interact with Mr. Incredible, Frozone and other characters from Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles” and upcoming “Incredibles 2.” And, for the first time ever, guests will get to see Edna Mode, the world’s greatest costume designer for the Supers. Tomorrowland gets decked out for this Supers celebration with Incredibles décor and the sounds of incredible music. High-energy fun builds to a “SUPER” dance party on the Rocket Tower Stage. “Incredibles 2” opens in theaters nationwide June 15.

Epcot

There will be more Super Hero action at Epcot where Star-Lord and Gamora, from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, take guests on a musical journey through the cosmos. The Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live! concert series will feature hits from Star-Lord’s Awesome Mixtapes – fun and favorite tunes from the two movie soundtracks. There will be five show times daily, running June 9 through Aug. 19.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The capstone of the Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World is the June 30 opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Part of a multi-year reimagining of the park, this new 11-acre land will transport guests into the adventurous outdoors of Andy’s backyard. Guests will experience two new attractions. Slinky Dog Dash is a family-friendly coaster that will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops that Andy has created to stretch Slinky and his coils to the max. “Toy Story” pals also come to life in another fresh-from-the-box themed attraction – Alien Swirling Saucers. This Pizza Planet toy play set is loaded with aliens circling about in their flying saucers pulling along rocket ships full of guests. The new land will also encompass Toy Story Mania! Already one of the most popular attractions, it will feature a brand-new entrance designed to look like a play set filled with carnival games. Woody’s Lunch Box will be a new quick-service kiosk serving tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats inside Toy Story Land.

Animal Kingdom

This summer, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is celebrating its 20th anniversary with two super new experiences:

• UP! A Great Bird Adventure premieres April 22, Earth Day, coinciding with the start of the park’s 20th anniversary celebration. The show features Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry friend Dug, from the Disney•Pixar animated film “UP,” as they discover bird species from around the world.
• Donald’s Dino-Bash!, which opens Memorial Day Weekend, is a “dino-tastic” celebration where Donald Duck takes over Dinoland U.S.A. The world’s most famous duck is celebrating his recent discovery that ducks are descendants of dinosaurs. He’s brought along feathered friends Scrooge McDuck and Launchpad McQuack, plus other Disney characters to meet guests. In addition to bringing his own decorating touch to the land, Donald puts on a nightly dance party where everyone can shake their tail feathers. The dance party is the newest addition to the lineup of after-dark entertainment that keeps the fun going past sundown at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

In addition to the fun new entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can still thrill to the park’s newest land, Pandora – The World of Avatar. There they can experience Avatar Flight of Passage, which quickly became the top-rated attraction at Walt Disney World.

Typhoon Lagoon

Rex and his “Toy Story” pals will be throwing a glow party bigger and better than ever at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Disney H2O Glow Nights will transform the water park like never before. Rex, a.k.a. Partysaurus Rex, serves as host and promises a sudsy good time. All attractions will be open for guest enjoyment and, as part of the fun, a DJ will host dancing on the beach. This special-ticket event will crank out the fun Thursdays and Saturdays only, June 21 through Aug. 11, from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Tickets go on sale March 19 and are $55 per person plus tax for adults and $50 per person plus tax for children ages 3-9. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (407) 939-1872.

Disney Springs

Summer 2018 also marks the first summer for incredible new offerings at Disney Springs, including “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire,” a hyper-reality experience from Lucasfilm, ILMxLAB and The VOID; and new restaurants and bars have popped up to tempt any appetite. These include The Edison, a lavish “Industrial Gothic” restaurant and bar; Maria & Enzo’s, an open and airy Italian trattoria featuring family-friendly dishes inspired by Sicily; Terralina Crafted Italian, a new concept from James Beard award winner and “Top Chef Master” Chef Tony Mantuano; and Wine Bar George, the only Master Sommelier-led wine bar in Florida, brought to Disney Springs by former California Grill manager and Master Sommelier George Miliotes (opening this spring).

Book Your Incredible Summer Now

All you have to do is Email Me to get started planning your Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World.

The post It’s Going to Be an Incredible Summer at Walt Disney World appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The four-course dining experience will begin with a reception where guests will be served passed Snow Crab claws with garlic butter accompanied by a glass of sparkling Mas Fi Cava. From there, they’ll then move to a private dining room where they’ll enjoy the first course: a crab salad with bacon, avocado,
tomato and Louie dressing paired with Muga Rosé. For the second course, guests will be served a lump crab, shrimp and crawfish étouffée alongside a glass of Textbook Chardonnay. The main course will feature a Surf and Turf combination of miso pork and king crab claws served with MacMurray Pinot Gris.
To cap off the dinner, guests will savor an espresso-flavored crème brûlée and hot chocolate paired with Alvear Cream Sherry.

Space for the rooftop crab dinner at Paddlefish event is limited. Tickets are $75 per person, which includes tax and gratuity, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite. Guests must be 21 years of age or older in order to attend. For more information, please visit paddlefishrestaurant.com or call 407-934- 2628. While this delectable dining event takes place a week after Valentine’s Day, tickets to this event would make an amazing Valentine’s Day gift for the crab lover in your life.

The post Enjoy a special Rooftop Crab Dinner at Paddlefish February 21st appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The beloved animated classic Beauty and the Beast broke ground as the first animated feature film to receive an Academy Award® nomination for best picture and its enchanting story and captivating characters have truly stood the test of time. In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary and addition to the Walt Disney Signature Collection, the delightful holiday adventure inspired by the timeless tale — Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas — will be released on DVD, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on Oct. 25

About Beauty and the Beast The Enchanted Christmas

Beauty and the Beast The Enchanted Christmas tells a tale set within the story of the original feature, about Belle spreading Christmas cheer within the confines of Beast’s castle during her time there. The film’s all-star voice cast features Robby Benson as Beast and Paige O’Hara as Belle, along with the castle’s enchanted staff including Jerry Orbach as Lumiere, David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth, Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts, Haley Joel Osment as Chip, Bernadette Peters as Angelique and Tim Curry as a grumpy pipe organ who threatens to ruin the holiday festivities.

Bonus Features:

Digital HD* and DMA

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTE – Step behind the scenes and witness how filmmakers created this irresistible holiday musical adventure — from storyboarding to special effects to the original musical score that lifts holiday spirits.

DISNEY SONG SELECTION – Delight in the spirited songs featured in “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” and performed by members of the star-studded cast.

SING ALONG WITH THE MOVIE – Grab a microphone – or a hairbrush – and sing along to your favorite songs from “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.”

“AS LONG AS THERE’S CHRISTMAS” – Check out the music video for the uplifting holiday song, “As Long as There’s Christmas,” performed by Swedish pop group Play.

ENCHANTED ENVIRONMENT – Bring the crackling fireplace from the Beast’s castle into your own home!

DISNEY’S SING ME A STORY WITH BELLE: “STICK TO IT (DON’T GIVE UP)” – Belle shares an inspirational message, encouraging viewers to keep trying and never give up.

DVD

SING ALONG WITH THE MOVIE

Looks like I might have to get the DVD and get it on Disney Movies Anywhere as well, just for the bonus features! This holiday movie is packed with laughs, music, beloved characters and heart, Beauty and the Beast The Enchanted Christmas is a must-own for the entire family!

The post Beauty and the Beast The Enchanted Christmas coming to DVD appeared first on The Mom Maven.

I had fun shopping for Mushu with the $50 gift code I was given. Here are the items I ordered for her:

Pet Cave– I am sure Mushu will love this…but it is on back order and scheduled to ship on 2/25.

Set of 3 Holiday Themed Collars-Now she has some festive attire for patriotic holidays, Halloween and Christmas. I put one on her when they arrived and they don’t seem to annoy her a bit!

Set of 4 Stuffing-Free Farm Animal Toys-When I was emptying the box, Mushu spied these toys right away. As you can see in the picture above, she took an instant liking to the cow. She hasn’t stopped playing with it. We put the other 3 toys away so now we have a stash to replace toys when they get worn out.

2 Pcs Omega Scoop and Clip Set-These will come in handy in keeping her dry food fresh and now we don’t need to use our hands to scoop it out.

I also purchased a few items that have since been discontinued. The dog pillow and 2 sets of the poop bags in baseball holders are no longer available.

The post Spoil Your Pets with Gifts from The Lakeside Collection appeared first on The Mom Maven.

I can tell you that this newsletter is not the same as my RSS feed. If you subscribe to my feed via email or a feed reader you get every post I write delivered to you daily. You have also noticed that my feed has changed. Due to the fact that I partner with Amazon, I learned I could not send full posts with affiliate links in them via email. This is why the feed has changed to excerpts only and it is coming from a new service now as well. If you would like to receive every post I write in your email box please subscribe here. My newsletter will include my top post of the week and it will revisit a previous recipe post as well as include other information not found on my blog. My newsletter will be published weekly (day and time to be determined by the survey results. I’ll leave the survey open for the rest of February 2015.

If you would like to receive my new weekly email, beginning in March please fill out this form.

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