The post Bye, Bye Pacifier DVD Winner appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Unfortunately, a lot of parents allow and even encourage pacifier use beyond the child’s first year. Beginning October 28, Sesame Street is kicking off its first-ever “Put Down the Pacifier” initiative to help kids through the difficult milestone of giving up their pacifier. The week-long promotion, which culminates on November 4 for “Put Down the Pacifier Day,” provides parents with daily tips and video clips from Elmo that will ease their child’s transition into a “big kid.”

To join the countdown to “Put Down the Pacifier Day,” families are encouraged to visit www.sesamestreet.org/pacifier  and Sesame Street’s Facebook page.

In addition to the online content Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street and Warner Home Video (WHV) release Bye Bye, Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo on DVD on November 1, 2011 for SRP $14.98. Elmo shows preschoolers how to deal with difficult emotions and encourages them to learn new things in Bye Bye, Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo – helping kids through important milestones such as giving up a pacifier, learning to ride a tricycle and getting a first haircut.

Bye Bye, Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo provides young children with encouragement, comfort and laughs on their journey to becoming a “big kid.” Featuring three stories that every child and parent can relate to, including a tale from Elmo on how he gave up his binky, this DVD will help kids feel confident in saying goodbye to their pacifiers too! Additionally, Bye Bye, Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo, contains all-new animated content and Elmo belts out a brand new tune entitled “Big Kid Too.” DVD extras include a 19-page PDF story and activity book and the classic clip “Proud.”

If you and your little one are having trouble giving up the pacifier this giveaway is for you! I have one copy of  Bye Bye, Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo DVD for one lucky reader of The Mom Maven.

Mandatory First Entry:Leave me a comment telling me what you and/or your child call their pacifier? I’ve heard lots of creative names over the years and I want to know what yours is.

Bonus Entries:

• Like Sesame Street on Facebook
• Like TheMomMaven on Facebook
• Like this post on Facebook by clicking the “Like” button at the bottom of the post.
• Follow Sesame Street on Twitter
• Follow MomMaven on Twitter
• Tweet this I just entered to #win Bye bye Pacifier DVD from @MomMaven & @SesameStreet http://bit.ly/t1p1ve 
• +1 this post on Google
• Subscribe to my blog’s RSS feed
• Follow my blog on Networked Blogs
• Friend this blog on Google Friend Connect

Disclosure: I received a copy of the DVD for the purpose of this post. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Calling all super heroes! Super Grover has lost his super-ness! Never fear, the fabulous five Super Heroes are here — featuring Elmo as Captain Fuzzy! Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Zoe and all their furry friends are on a quest to put the “super” back in Super Grover. Singing and dancing their way through fun lessons on healthy habits, they discover how exercise, rest, nutritious food and good hygiene can save Super Grover — and turn your children into Super Heroes, too! You’ll be feeling good when Elmo’s Super Heroes! comes to town!

Sesame Street Live is a larger-than-life, musical touring stage production featuring Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie…and more. Each performance is 90 minutes of singing, dancing and audience participation, including a 15-minute intermission. The perfect length for very young children! There are six (6) delightful Central Florida performances! Tickets on-sale at all Ticketmaster locations or to charge by phone, call 800-745-3000. You can save $3 per ticket! Use the code ERNIE online at ticketmaster.com to receive the discount. (Discount excludes Gold Circle & Sunny Seats. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.)

The Central Florida show schedule is as follows:

Tampa,FL; St. Pete Times Forum-Tuesday, November 29 7:00pm & Wednesday, November 30, 2011 10:30am and 7:00pm.

Lakeland,FL; TheLakelandCenter– Youkey Theatre Saturday, December 3 5:30pm & Sunday, December 4, 2011 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

Tickets would make a great early Christmas gift for your kids and The Mom Maven has a family 4 pack of ticket vouchers to give away!
Mandatory 1st EntryTell me a favorite Sesame Street Memory. Mine is November 10, 1969-I was at Harborlight Kindergarten and we all went into Reverend Wilbur’s office to watch the first episode of this new educational television program. As a 5 year old, it was magical just to find out there was a television at church (how things have changed!). Watching the Muppets and their human friends interact was amazing.

Bonus Entries:

• Like Sesame Street Live on Facebook
• Follow Sesame Street Live on Twitter
• Like this post on Facebook using the button at the bottom of the post
• Like TheMomMaven on Facebook
• Follow @MomMaven on Twitter
• Tweet this Hey @MomMaven We want to see @SesameStLive in Central Florida! http://bit.ly/teyfJk  #win (you may do this 2x a day)
• +1 this post on Google using the button on the bottom of this post
• Blog subscribers, GFC friends and Networked Blog Followers get 1 entry each

This giveaway is open to US residents only who are available to attend a show in either Tampa or Lakeland, Florida on one of the dates listed above. The winner will have 48 hours to respond via email to claim their prize.  The giveaway ends at 9pm ET on November 19, 2011. The winner will be chosen by Random.org.

The post Sesame Street Live Coming to Tampa and Lakeland appeared first on The Mom Maven.

On Nov. 6, Cookie Monster is the guest of honor. Enjoy lunch, break dance with Cookie Monster and his beat boy friends, and enjoy – what else? – yummy cookies!

Dec. 7, join Rosita and her Muppet amigos for lunch, a sing-along and a special Latin treat.

Both lunches feature delicious food served buffet-style and character meet and greets with the beloved Sesame Street characters. The menu includes items sure to please both parents and kids alike. One 6×8 photo is included per family. Lunch is $23 for adults and $17 for children. Pass members 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 Nov. 6 or Dec. 4 dines, or call 1-888-800-5447.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun is an all-new, Sesame Street-themed sunny, funny play land at Busch Gardens 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.

The post Celebrate Cookie Monster and Rosita’s Birthday’s at Busch Garden’s Sesame Street Safari of Fun appeared first on The Mom Maven.

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 Dad. Both breakfast and lunch menus include items sure to please both parents and kids alike. One 6×8 photo with Dad, kids and your Sesame Street friends is included per family. Breakfast is $18 for adults and $15 for children. Lunch is $23 for adults and $17 for children. Pass members 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 June 20 dine, or call 1-888-800-5447 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-888-800-5447      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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.

The post Celebrate Father’s Day at Busch Gardens appeared first on The Mom Maven.

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.

The post Celebrate Mother’s Day with Your Sesame Street Friends appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Don’t forget to enter the It’s All Too Much DVD giveaway and the Chunky Bling Giveaway!

The post Elmo Winner appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Yesterday the media and some local Tampa families were invited to have fun before the area officially opens. The event was kicked off with some remarks by Busch Gardens General Manager, Jim Dean and a furry little red friend of his.

Florida residents to sign your child up for the free pre-schoolers pass that Jim mentioned visit http://sesamestreetsafarioffun.com.

We spent time checking out all of the new and updated rides, as you can see from the photos in my Whrrl.

Jordan and I even got to ride Air Grover the new roller coaster that kids and parents can ride together; children must be at least 38 inches tall to ride with an adult and 41 inches tall to ride unaccompanied.
Disclaimer: This is how the video came from Busch Gardens. Due to the format that gave it to us in I wasn’t able to edit the beginning or where I had to restart my into. Sorry about that but there was nothing I could do.

Air Grover from Cindy Schultz on Vimeo.

We had a lot of fun yesterday! Busch Gardens Tampa is now truly a park for all ages to enjoy. I also want to thank Sherrie, our escort for the day. Sherrie was very helpful and accommodating.

Now…the giveaway! I received a 10 inch plush Elmo yesterday and I want to share it with 1 lucky reader of The Mom Maven.
Mandatory 1st Entry visit SesameStreetSafariofFun and check out the attractions. Then come back here and tell me what attraction your child would like the most.

Bonus Entries

• Subscribers get 1 entry
• Networked Blogs followers get 1 entry
• Tweet “I want Elmo! I entered to win him from @MomMaven http://bit.ly/9iwBDa” you may tweet this 1x a day.

US Entries only. The winner will be chosen by Random.org on Friday April 2 at 8:00pm.

The post Sesame Street Safari of Fun-Review & Giveaway appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The FREE Commemorative Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is an exclusive online offer available at SesameStreetSafariofFun.com. It is exclusively for Florida residents with kids ages 5 and younger and is valid for unlimited admission-with no blackout dates-through December 31, 2010 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. After registering at the website, registrants may pick up the Preschool Pass for their child by bringing a printed confirmation and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate to any ticket window at Busch Garden’s front gate.

The post Free Admission for Preschoolers at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay appeared first on The Mom Maven.

On March 27,2010 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay welcomes families to an all-new, Sesame Street-themed, sunny funny play land featuring Elmo, Big Bird and all their friends. Sesame Street Safari of Fun will be filled with kid-size rides, cool water fun, shows and memorable adventures that celebrate the spirit of Africa. Donnie Mills, Busch Gardens Executive Vice President and General Manager said, “With the addition of sesame Street Safari of Fun, Busch Gardens truly has something for all ages, and this new destination in the park is certain to be a hit among families and kids.”

The 2.5 acre area will feature:

• Air Grover A junior coaster full of turns and mini-dives perfect for parents and kids to ride together.
• The Count’s Zambezi Rally A kid-sized car ride that takes you on a jaunt through the desert and tribal trails
• Zoe-Patra & the Hippos of the Nile A splashy flume through the famed river
• Elmo’s Safari-Go-Round A tribal inspired carousel with Elmo and his friends
• Snuffy’s Elephant Romp Fly around and around and up and down on Snuffy’s fun friends
• Rosita’s Djembe Fly-Away A swing ride through the jungle that sends kids whirling above the African canopy
• Big Bird’s Whirly Birdie It’s funny side up on Big Bird’s delightfully playful ferris wheel ride.
• Telly’s Jungle Jam Explore sounds, shapes and shadows in this naturally engaging play area for kids of ALL abilities
• Elmo’s Treehouse Trek a 3-story hideaway to play hide-n-seek, discover new levels of fun and get a bird’s eye view of the entire play land.
• Cookie Monster’s Canopy Crawl Climb, crawl and explore in this 3-story net climb
• Slimey’s Sahara Sand A fun-filled, sand-filled beachy oasis where kids can frolic in the coolest dessert around
• Oscar’s Swamp Stomp Stomp, splash and play in Oscar’s delightfully cool water play area
• Bert & Ernie’s Watering Hole A wildly fun water adventure filled with bubblers, geysers, jets, dumping buckets and more.
• Sunny Day Theatre Musical performances bring tales of adventure to life
• Sesame Street presents “Lights, Camera, Imagination!” A 4-D movie that brings the Sesame Street Muppets’ adventures to life with zany 3-D gags and special effects like wind, water and jump-out-of-your-seat surprises. Playing in the 4-D theater in Timbuktu area of the park.

You can share breakfast or lunch with Elmo and his friends on select days at an outdoor dining facility adjacent to Sesame Street Safari of Fun. Fill up on hugs from your favorite characters, delicious food and family together time during these unique dining experiences. The menu includes items sure to please both adults and kids alike. Breakfast is $18 for adults and $15 for children; lunch is $23 for adults and $17 for children. Breakfast and lunch prices include one free 6×8 photo per family. You can make your reservations at SesameStreetSafariofFun.com or cal 1-888-800-5447.

While you are visiting your Sesame Street friends you can stop by Big Bird’s 123-Smile with Me photo area to meet and greet you favorite characters!

Disclaimer-I was invited by Busch Gardens to a preview breakfast for Sesame Street Safari of Fun. If you have any questions please refer to my disclosure statement at the bottom of this page.

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