I’ve had a couple people ask me lately about reputable survey companies that I’d recommend. These are ones that I have experience with that have always paid on time and went well. I recommend all of these:
Tips For Visiting Disney World With Senior Citizens
This is a guest post by my friend Alexia. Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida. When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!
Some of the best memories at Disney World are made during multi-generational vacations. My family had the privilege of having my dad travel with us on our girls’ first trip to Disney World in October 2012. He will be traveling with us again in October 2014. Traveling with senior citizens can be challenging, especially at a place like Disney World that is large and very spread out. Here are some tips for traveling to Disney World with senior citizens:
- Request an accessible room. All Disney resorts have handicap accessible rooms. These rooms are closer to the front and are wheelchair and ECV accessible. The doors are a little wider, the bathrooms are larger, and the bathtubs are designed for easy access in and out. If you will need one, request one in advance.
- Rent a wheelchair or ECV. If you don’t already have your own, consider renting a wheelchair or ECV for seniors with mobility issues. You can rent a wheelchair or ECV from the parks; however, they are only available on a first come, first serve basis and must be returned before leaving the parks. There are also several rental companies that will rent you a wheelchair or ECV for the length of your stay. Many of these companies will also deliver the wheelchair or ECV to your resort and show you how to operate it as well as pick it up before you check out.
- Take precautions against Florida weather. Make sure everyone in your party stays hydrated and wears sunscreen. Young children and seniors are the most susceptible to the heat, so make sure to check on them frequently.
- Read the posted precautions for the attractions. There are some medical conditions that can be aggravated if you go on the ride. Please take the warnings seriously.
- Take frequent breaks. Parades and shows are a great way to take a break and relax while still experiencing some Disney magic. Try to find a shady spot to sit under for outdoor events.
- Familiarize yourself with your loved one’s dietary needs. If you read my article about dining at Disney with special dietary needs, you already know that Disney is amazing about accommodating special dietary needs. Familiarize yourself with your loved one’s needs and be sure to contact the restaurants where you will be dining in advance.
- Take time for the Flag Retreat at the Magic Kingdom. This is my dad’s favorite thing to watch at the Magic Kingdom. Every day at 5:00 pm, the American flag is ceremonially lowered, removed, and folded. It is sometimes performed with large college marching bands, sometimes with a smaller Disney band. A veteran in the park is always selected to assist with the Flag Retreat and is presented with the flag.
Do you have any tips for traveling to Disney World with senior citizens? I would love to hear them!
Mommy Octopus Note: Our last trip to Disney, we took my 89 year old grandfather before he passed away. It was a great trip and he enjoyed it very much. Mainly he loved just watching the kids have fun, but he also enjoyed the People Mover, It’s a Small World, and more. Don’t hesitate taking your older family members with you on your trip. This ended up being a super special trip as he was diagnosed with Lymphoma and passed away shortly after. We had been going to Disney with him since I was a baby. Lots of great memories.
Hershey Heart Pretzels – Perfect Valentine’s Day Party Treats!
Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it! I love being able to show those around me how much I love them and share some sweet treats. It’s super easy to make these fun bite sized Hershey Heart Pretzels. They make the perfect school Valentine’s Day Party Treats.
These Valentine Day treats are so simple that you can even get the kids involved and make a batch in just a few moments. The hardest part is getting to the store to purchase the ingredients! You can find all sorts of fun valentine sprinkles in the baking isle or in the seasonal isle. You can get creative and make these for other holidays or themed parties as well.
Once you have everything, simply set out all of your ingredients and unwrap the chocolates. You can always put a clean-hand kid in charge of this easy task.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While it’s warming up, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay out your pretzels. Place an unwrapped heart chocolate on each individual pretzel and then pop them in your oven at 350 for just 1 minute.
Remove and then decorate and allow them to cool! You’re really just slightly melting the chocolate so that it sticks to the pretzel and sprinkles but also still retaining it’s shape.
And then in just a few minutes, you have perfection! Easy, huh? What are your favorite Valentine’s Day Party Treats?
How to Make Hershey Heart Pretzels
Ingredients
- Mini Pretzels
- Hershey Fudge Hearts
- Valentine M&M’s
- Valentine Decorations
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Place pretzels on baking sheet
- Place a fudge heart on each pretzel
- Place in oven for about a minute (watch them closely).
- Remove from oven and press 1 M&M in the middle of each heart and/or sprinkle with the decorations.
- Allow to cool completely before trying to move.
8 Ways To Prepare for Winter
Here in Georgia, it doesn’t get super cold very often. This week, we are looking at a low of 5 tomorrow. Yes. 5. Single digits! Those of you up north probably would find that to be a heat wave right now, but for this Georgia Peach, that calls for hibernation! Or at least a batch of hot cocoa, warm fire, and a nice blanket.
Really, it’s not the snow that gets us, it’s the ice. I remember one cold front came through and the trees all were covered in ice. All night long we heard tree after tree crashing down under the weight of the ice. We spent the night just praying that one wouldn’t fall on our house. It didn’t, however we did lose power for a few days.
Here’s a few things that we have learned in order to prepare for cold weather.
- If you have a fireplace, chop wood ahead of time. Keep it covered if possible so you won’t have to try to start a fire with wet wood.
- Put weather stripping around doors.
- Inventory all of your winter items and make sure that each member of your family has adequate clothing and accessories AND that they still fit – jackets, coats, hats, gloves, boots, scarves, etc.
- Use an Outdoor Faucet Cover to try and keep water lines from freezing.
- Bring in outside pets.
- Plan ahead on meals so you’re not running to the store in the midst of a snowstorm or black ice warning for milk.
- Keep all medications refilled in case you are stuck at home for a few days.
- Have the following on hand:
- Matches
- Canned Foods (you can easily cook most canned foods right in the can in your fireplace if the power goes out)
- Blankets
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Can opener (not electric)
Do you have any other tips to add or items that we should keep on hand? Leave a comment and let me know! I’d love to hear from you!
Move is Complete, Sorta….
I told you guys a few weeks ago that we were moving. Don’t worry Athenians, I’m still in the area! We are finally getting settled in our new house, which means all the essentials are unpacked and the rest will just have to wait. The kids are doing great with the move and are excited to be meeting new neighborhood friends. No worries about switching schools (hooray for homeschooling!).
On many of our trips to the old house, I brought along our german shepherd. She fell asleep like this in the front passenger seat and I thought it was so cute so I took a photo. My husband says she’s praying for my driving! LOL!
Now that things are calm again, I plan to bring ya’ll more fun posts and activity ideas along with the deals. Of course, family and homeschool come before the blog, but I will be around!
Sisters in Time: Great Historical Christian Fiction Book for Pre-Teens
Yesterday my bestie and I spent about an hour in the local Family Christian bookstore. I wanted to find some new reading material for my avid 10 year old reader. I came across a series called Sisters in Time. They seem similar to the American Girl books only with a Christian perspective, which is important to my family.
There are 6 books and each book is a 4 in 1 book. Meaning each book has 4 stories in it. The books are quite thick and over 500 pages each so it will definitely take my daughter longer than an hour to read! Some story lines:
- Sarah’s New World by Colleen L Reece is a story about John and Sarah Smythe and their voyage to America on-board the Mayflower. In search of a country that will allow them to worship freely the Smythe family leaves Holland and faces the dangers of a sea voyage. After 2 months of struggle and hardship the Mayflower reaches the New World and begins the Plymouth colony.
- Rebekah in Danger by Colleen L Reece begins in late 1620 and is the story of Rebekah and Will Cunningham and the settling of New Plymouth. After the dangers and trials of a sea voyage new troubles await the Pilgrims. Who will survive till the spring? But help comes from an unexpected source – Indians. Through it all Rebekah and Will grow in wisdom and understanding.
- Maggie’s Dare by Norma Jean Lutz takes place during the height of America’s Great Awakening period (1744 -1745) and is Maggie and Evan Baldwin’s story. In the changing Boston society Maggie is caught up in her confusion of where she belongs and her feelings about slavery and the Revivalists. But when she meets Jonathan Edwards she sees herself as she really is and Boston society loses it charm while Boston’s poor and needy call to her heart.
- Lizzie and the Redcoat by Susan Martins Miller takes place around 1765 and is Lizzie and Joshua Murray’s story. Boston is in a time of upheaval and anger at the King over the Stamp Act is causing Boston’s citizens to take up arms and anyone sympathizing with the British soldiers in America was in danger. Amid the turmoil that is Boston Lizzie must decide where she stands.
So as you can see, definitely a great series for young girls.
As always, I try to look for a great deal. I shopped around and found that Walmart.com is the cheapest place for this series right now, priced a little over $6 for each 4 in 1 book. I went ahead and grabbed the other ones that I didn’t buy yesterday and I plan to give them to my daughter throughout the year. Definitely pleased with this series.
Just wanted to share in case anyone else is looking for some great books for your preteen.
I’d also love to hear more suggestions on great books for young girls or boys. Leave a comment and tell me what your kids like!
Minion Munch Chex Party Mix Recipe + Giveaway!
We absolutely love watching Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. We also love the ease of making Chex Party Mix to go with every season or event. If you’re having a party or just want to have some fun Minion food, check out this Minion Munch Chex Party Mix Recipe. It’s super easy to make and tastes great!
Minion Munch Chex® Party Mix
Ingredients
- 2cups Honey Nut Chex® cereal
- 2cups Chocolate Chex® cereal
- 2cups Banana Nut Cheeerios® cereal
- 1cup dry-roasted peanuts
- 1/4cup butter or margarine
- 1/4cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4cup peanut butter
- 1cup freeze-dried banana chips
- 1/2cup candy-coated chocolate candies
Instructions
- In large microwaveable bowl, measure cereals and peanuts.
- In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter until melted, about 30 seconds. Stir in brown sugar and peanut butter; microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture is boiling. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
- Microwave uncovered on High about 3 minutes, stirring every minute, until mixture is glazed. Cool 5 minutes. Stir in dried bananas and candies. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container.
Besides just sharing this fun recipe, our friends at General Mills have offered a prize pack for one of my readers to enjoy your own Minion Munch Party Mix and movie.
General Mills will send the winner a gift pack containing:
• (1) Box Honey Nut Chex
• (1) Box Chocolate Chex
• (1) Box Banana Nut Cheerios
• (1) Despicable Me 2 DVD
• (1) Minion USB
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Information and giveaway provided by General Mills through My Blog Spark.
When Sickness Strikes At Disney
This is another guest post by my friend Alexia. Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida. When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!
If you are anything like me, you pack your entire medicine cabinet and enough Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer to last your family a year when you go on vacation. As much as you think you are prepared, illness and/or injuries could happen at any time. Here is everything you need to know about how to handle when sickness or injuries strike at Disney World:
If you suffer from a minor illness or injury such as a headache, upset stomach, runny nose, or blister while at the parks, head to the first-aid station. These first-aid stations are staffed by licensed nurses who can give you over the counter medicines, bandages, ice packs, etc. for free. At the Magic Kingdom, the first-aid station is located at the end of Main Street, between Casey’s Corner and Crystal Palace. At Epcot, the first-aid station is located at Odyssey Center, between Future World and World Showcase. At Hollywood Studios, the first-aid station is located at Guest Relations building on Hollywood Boulevard. At Animal Kingdom, the first-aid station is located at Discovery Island, behind Creature Comforts. At Typhoon Lagoon, the first-aid station is located behind Leaning Palms. At Blizzard Beach, the first-aid station is located between Lottawatta Lodge and Beach Haus.
If you suffer from a minor illness or injury while at your resort, the resort gift shop should have everything you need. If it is late and the gift shop is not open, call the front desk. They will usually open up the shop for you so you can get what you need. Although I cannot confirm this, I have heard many people say that they were given what they needed from the gift shop for free if they asked for it when the shop was closed.
If you suffer from a moderate illness or injury such as an ear infection or persistent fever while at the parks, head to the first-aid station or alert a cast member. They can call one of the local Urgent Care Centers for you. Both Buena Vista Urgent Care and Centra Care are close and offer a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Disney property. The shuttle service will usually stop at Walgreen’s for you as well if you need to fill a prescription.
If you suffer from a moderate illness or injury while at your resort, call the front desk. Again, they can call one of the Urgent Care Centers for you. If you do not want to leave your resort (and are willing to pay for it), the front desk can have a doctor come to your hotel room. Doctors on Call Service (Docs) will send a licensed physician to your resort to treat you.
If you suffer from a major illness or injury while in the parks, call 9-1-1 or alert the nearest cast member. They will call the Disney paramedics (yes, Disney does actually have paramedics) who are usually on the scene in less than five minutes. The Disney ambulance will transport you to the nearest hospital, which is Florida Hospital Celebration Health.
If you suffer from a major illness or injury while at your resort, call 9-1-1 or call the front desk. Again, the Disney paramedics will arrive and transport you to Florida Hospital Celebration Health.
One of the many things I love about Walt Disney World is the fact that the cast members go above and beyond to take care of the guests. I have heard many stories of guests needing to take a cab back to their resort from the hospital, only to be reimbursed by the front desk when they return. I have also heard many stories of guests returning to their resort from the hospital or urgent care to balloons and stuffed animals waiting for them just to try to spread a little Disney magic during a difficult time.
Have you ever had a medical emergency while at Disney World? Did the cast members take care of you and your family? I would love to hear your thoughts!
For past posts about Disney, click here.
Easy Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Balls
My mom made these peanut butter balls every Christmas when we were growing up. I always wanted to make them for my kids, but we had a problem stopping us. As most of ya’ll know, my son was diagnosed with a soy allergy about 3 years ago. We are so very thankful for finding out the source of his tummy troubles, but now we have the challenge of creating sweets for him with such a limited supply of ingredients that he can use.
I recently have found that Tollhouse Dark Chocolate chips do NOT have soy and same with Annie’s Graham Crackers. I was so excited to be able to put my own twist on this family favorite recipe.
We put together these Easy Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Balls tonight and they were a hit! The kids ate several of them right away and the rest we put in the fridge. They are even more tasty after being refrigerated for a while.
First off, Mix together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, powdered milk, and chocolate chips. Add water by tablespoons until it’s combined. Depending on your brand of peanut butter, you may find that you need more or less water than listed.
Next, have your kiddos mash up some graham crackers. Thank you Annie’s that my son can enjoy these and S’mores now!!
Last, roll up a small bit of the peanut butter mixture and roll it in the mashed graham crackers. Put them on a pan lined with wax paper and enjoy or refrigerate for later.
Easy Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Balls
Author:
Super simple and yummy treat
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups CRUNCHY peanut butter
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips (tollhouse is soy free!)
- 1 cup nonfat dry milk
- 6 tablespoons water
- 8 graham cracker squares, mashed – (Annie’s brand are soy free!)
Instructions
- Mx together first 4 ingredients.
- Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time until combined.
- Roll the mixture into a small ball and roll in mashed graham crackers
- Place on a cookie sheet and refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Store in airtight container. Serve chilled.
- Makes about 30 balls, depending on size. More if you make smaller balls, less if you make bigger ones.
Party with Tropical Island Chex Mix
I love making Chex Mix. It’s super easy, fun, and tasty. My friends at Platefull Co-op send me a goodie box filled with everything needed to make Tropical Island Chex Mix. I took about 15 minutes yesterday and now we have a yummy snack!
With all the fun tropical ingredients, it takes you to those fun summer days filled with lemonade, ice cream, and laughter. With the warm winter weather we’ve been having lately, I’d say we aren’t too far from summer anyways 😉
Ingredients:
- 8 cups Rice Chex® cereal
- 1 cup shredded coconut, if desired
- 1 cup dried banana chips
- 1 package (7 oz) dried tropical fruit mix
- 1 jar (3 oz) macadamia nuts
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup frozen (thawed) pineapple or orange juice concentrate
Directions:
In microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in brown sugar and pineapple juice concentrate. Microwave uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until hot; stir. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 6 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until mixture just begins to brown.Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Store in airtight container.
OR
Oven Directions: Heat oven to 300°F. In ungreased large roasting pan, mix cereal, coconut, banana chips, tropical fruit mix and nuts. In 1-quart saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar and pineapple juice concentrate over medium heat until hot. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Bake uncovered 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.
Interested in making some? Stop by Publix for the ingredients and grab this coupon:
11/14—12/31: Save $1.00 off 2 Chex cereals, find coupon in the “All The Trimmings” coupon booklet, available now until 12/31/13 in Publix stores.
* Disclaimer: The recipe and ingredients for this yummy snack were provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.
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