Discount SEA LIFE Aquarium Charlotte/Concord Admission

Looking for a great way to beat the 100+ degree temperatures this week in Charlotte? SEA LIFE Aquarium in Concord is offering adult and child admission for only $11.95 for visits Monday-Friday between 12p-7p until July 17th 2015. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, click here to purchase! 

This is a great chance to check out Ruby the Giant Pacific Octopus during her octopus enrichment at 2:15p each day. Learn more about Ruby here. There's plenty for your little guppies to enjoy and explore in the 26,000 square foot indoor (AIR-CONDITIONED) aquarium, including a touch pool where kids get up close and personal with amazing sea creatures.

My kids enjoy collecting stamps for their guide books as they rove around the aquarium, learning about the importance and beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants. They can show their punches at the end for a special surprise.

Plus there are sharks! My son was amazed as this sharp toothed beauty swam over the top of him and his dad during our last visit.


To honor our country's service men and women this 4th of July weekend, SEA LIFE is offering free admission to military members with a valid military I.D. Accompanying family members will also receive a discounted admission of $18. Walk up tickets only.

Read More

Kids Keep Creating with YOXO Toys

It's TV trance face. You know - when your kiddo's eyes glaze over and pupils dilate to allow as much TV in as possible. Ugh, I hate TV trance face - but many times it's a necessary evil when looking for a quick fix to keep them entertained while I get dinner ready, or try to - God forbid - go to the bathroom alone. I tried the unique looking YOXO toys in an attempt to avoid TV trance face, but keep the kids entertained and playing independently while using their imaginations.

At first I wasn't sure how much of a hit they would be, they didn't have a power button and seemed relatively simple - but the simplicity of the toy is where it's beauty lies. The toy requires the child to engage with it, not the other way around. We had the two two-year-olds and my six-year-old at the table. I did have to initially show them how the pieces fit together, but after a quick how-to they were off and creating. Before I knew it they were having races to see who could build the tallest, the widest, the one with the most circles - and the google eye stickers were a hit. I liked that the pieces were easy to pick up and that if you did step on one it didn't send you through the roof. That night I was able to get our baked chicken and potatoes on the table without too many interruptions. 

If you're looking for parent-child interaction there are several instructions that can be followed to create the robot, dragon fly and several other creations. YOXO toys are neat because you can use every day items around the house as your expansion pack, string, paper towel rolls, a cereal box - all these items can be incorporated for play. I also loved that they were made in the USA - a badge that can be hard to come across in any form of toy. The two-year-olds (who are closer to three) did quite well with them, but my six-year-old really took off with them. YOXO has won several awards including the 2014 Creative Play of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine, and was a Gold Winner in the National Parenting Publications Awards.  It's a gift I plan to buy for our next birthday party and you can pick up YOXO at Target, the kits we used cost around $20.

Read More

Ruby The Octopus May Be As Smart As Your Five-Year-Old

Meet Ruby. She's the Giant Pacific octopus and resident at the 26,000 square foot indoor aquarium SEA LIFE in Charlotte-Concord that may be as smart as your five-year-old!

That's right, a Giant Pacific octopus can develop the mental capacity of a five-year-old with proper engagement. SEA LIFE has designed an Octopus Enrichment program for Ruby that will include her solving puzzle-type activities with a trained team of SEA LIFE aquarists. Her first enrichment program has her tentacle painting on paper using positive treat reinforcement. Check out her work below -she's a regular eight-tentacled Picasso! 

The SEA LIFE in Aukland New Zealand partnered with Sony and were able to teach their Giant Pacific octopus, Rambo, to take pictures of visitors using a specially mounted camera in her tank. How cool is that? Next thing you know she'll be fighting with her sibling octopi over whose turn it is to play Minecraft on the iPad. 

You can meet Ruby and watch as she engages in SEA LIFE's Octopus Enrichment programs each day at 2:15PM in her tank in the Shipwreck area of the aquarium. To plan your visit or learn more about SEA LIFE you can go to www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord.  

Read More

Carolina Adventure Camp: An Unforgettable Summer!

Sun, adventure and warm days filled with fresh air, fun and friends - isn't that what childhood summers should be? If you want your kids ages 7-11 to unplug from the digital realm this summer, sign them up for Carolina Adventure Camp. This dynamic summer camp has your child exploring their world through arts and crafts, hiking, acting and improv, adventure challenges, team games and lots more. 

You'll love the energy and excitement that the counselors at Carolina Adventure Camp bring. Not only are they CPR and first aid certified (a must have for this neurotic mama), but they all have experience working with youth. Plus they enjoy being role models for young campers as they guide them through weeks of exploration and education. 

The camp is centrally located at the beautiful, 98-acre Freedom Park in Uptown Charlotte. Freedom Park offers a seven-acre lake, baseball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater, nature museum, a challenge course, nature and walking trails and two playgrounds. 

A call to Moms and Dads! Spots for Carolina Adventure Camp are filling up quickly - don't get locked out of this amazing camp. Dates for camp run from June 22nd - July 30th from 9am - 3pm. Campers can sign up for one week at a time for $175 or can sign up for all six weeks for $595. 

If you sign up before April 15th you can save $50 on registration!

Invest in an unforgettable summer for your child and check out Carolina Adventure Camp online by clicking here and keep up to date with all the fun on their Facebook page. 

This is a paid blog post for Carolina Adventure Camp.

Read More

Easter Egg 400 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame

It's spring and the the perfect time of year to get your engines hopping over to check out the Easter Egg 400 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame! Check out all the spring time fun on Saturday, March 28th from 8:30 - 11:30am for kids ages 12 and under.

Rookie Racer members can enjoy a pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny (info on how to join Rookie Racers here) from 8:30-9:30. For all attendees there will be face painting and spring craft activities in the Great Hall from 8:30-9:30 with a egg hunt from 9:30-9:45 on the third floor of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Then bounce into the fun as the movie 'Hop' is shown in the High Octane Theater from 10:00-11:30.

The cost for the Easter Egg 400 is $7 for adults and kids 2-12, children under 2 are free. The Easter Bunny pancake breakfast is for Rookie Racer members only. This event does NOT include admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but general admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased separately.

Read More

Full STEAM Ahead with Terrific Scientific and Art Adventures Summer Camps {Coupon Code}

{Scroll to the bottom for $25 off coupon code!} 

We may just be recovering from our Southern #SNOWPOCALYPSE 2015, but it's already time to start thinking about selecting summer camps for the kiddos. Personally, I'm ready to welcome the warmth and sun back! Last year we sent our 5 year old daughter to a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) camp with Terrific Scientific and Art Adventures and it made a long lasting positive impression on all of us. She couldn't stop talking about what she learned and is thrilled to go back again this year. The program got her thinking, asking questions and truly engaged and excited about science. They offered a fun and educational experience for kids ages 4-15 in the Charlotte area. This summer they have 30 different weekly classes running from June 15th until August 14th at three different locations close to you:

1. Bethany Church 4301 Beluah Church Rd Weddington, NC 28104
2. United Faith Christian Academy 8617 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28277
3. The British International School of Charlotte 7000 Endhaven Lane Charlotte, NC 28277

The summer camp options range from fun things like 'I'm a Movie Maker', 'Future Physician', 'RPG Video Game Maker', 'Robot Builder', 'Robot Developer', 'All Things (Potter) Magical & Mystical', 'Adventures in Cartooning' and many more. Click here to check out all the camps for Terrific Scientific and Art Adventures.

Bonus news mama- we're offering a $25 off coupon to our readers for each registration when you use the code MOMS15! 

In addition to awesome summer camps, beginning this fall, Terrific Scientific and Art Adventures will offer after school science, technology and art enrichment classes, host birthday parties and can add excitement to organized play dates or group events. Check out all they have to offer on the Terrific Scientific and Art Adventures websites, or keep up to date by liking them on their Facebook page.

Read More

Ok Mom, Are You Ready for Your Close-up? Family Photography in Charlotte

As moms we have a tendency to avoid being in photos. We have a million reasons. We didn't do our make up, we don't like our outfit, we still haven't lost those x number of pounds - oh we just want one of the kids. Well moms, I'm here to tell you from a mom who didn't do her make up, doesn't like her outfit and still needs to lose x pounds, that it's time for YOUR close up - and time to get into your family photos.

Photo Credit: www.PhotographyByLarisa.com

Why should you get in front of a camera now and stop cringing? I submit to you throwback Thursdays (#TBT), you know what I'm talking about right? Thursdays are when people post old pictures of themselves on Facebook and Instagram and inevitably think - "God I looked so young, God I looked so thin!"

Photo Credit: www.PhotographyByLarisa.com

Moms - today is tomorrow's #TBT so get in front of that camera with your family and smile - for these are the photos we will look back at 20 years from now and cherish. Want to really love how you look in your family photos? The key is finding an awesome family photographer - one who can help with your outfit selections, get your family in comfortable poses and capture all of your radiating smiles, and not cost you a fortune. This year we used Larisa Black with Photography by Larisa to shoot our baby number 3 announcement and family photos.

Photo Credit: www.PhotographyByLarisa.com

I was already into my second trimester and she helped me to select colors and clothing that worked for my body type and coordinated with the rest of the family. We had our photo shoot at Romare Barden Park for the perfect Charlotte backdrop. I love our photos. She guided me so I didn't feel awkward about where to put my hands or how to stand, or which angles to turn my body to make me look my best. The photos she took were fun, energetic and beautiful - which is exactly how my family looks to me in my head and now on canvas. I have true photographic evidence that I am part of our family - and some great future #TBT content ;)

Photo Credit: www.PhotographyByLarisa.com

Check out the gallery from Photography by Larisa by clicking here. She specializes in family photography, maternity sessions, children photography, newborns and seniors. She offers photography services in the Charlotte, Fort Mill and Rock Hill areas.

Read More