We went opening weekend, Friday the 18th. We made sure to get there JUST as the park opened, because we knew it would be a mad-rush of Disney and Star Wars savvy fans. And many of these fans with children would be making a mad dash to sign their kids up for Jedi Training Academy.This is something you do early in the morning – and once all time slots are filled…they are filled.

We had booked a room at the Caribbean Beach resort the night before, so our room keys were also our Disney passes. We arrived at the park at 7:15 am. We stood in line for 30 minutes and then storm troopers came down to entertain the crowd and officially let us in the park. Once we entered, we immediately made a bee-line for the Indiana Jones theater, where they were signing in children. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CHILDREN TO ENTER. A fast adult cannot run ahead and get entrance or stand in line, Disney staff will not admit you onto the line without the children.

For Star Wars Weekends they seem to have double the shows and admit double the amount of kids into each show. My boys were #20 and #21 to be admitted, without me running. Just walk fast, is my tip. The Jedi Training Academy is intended for children 4 – 12 years of age. They ask them a few simple questions, like are they ready to fight for the force and will they follow instructions. Then we received a slip of paper with their name (non-transferable) and their time slot. We were the 9:45 time slot, but we had to return early to keep out time slot. They wanted us there by 9:15 just to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Now, let me give you this tip. Toy Story Mania fills up FAST. The line wait can be an hour or more. The best way to ride it is with a Fast Pass, which also can disappear by the end of the day. So, if you want to get a good time on Toy Story Mania, head there ASAP. So while I was online with the boys to sign up for Padawan Training, my husband took our tickets to get Fast Passes for the family. It worked out perfectly.

And by the time he got Fast Passes for Toy Story Mania and I had gotten the boys signed up for the Jedi Training Academy, there were still not too many people in the way back of the park by the updated Star Tours ride. So we got on with only a 5 minute (if that) wait! It was AWESOME! The boys LOVED IT! And the 3-D was nice and smooth, no one complained of nausea.

There were also many Storm Troopers walking around the park, really giving everyone a laugh. And we also met up with the Tusken Raiders roaming the area. Chewbacca, and Ewok, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, Darth Vader and a few other characters had lines you had to stand in to meet them. We stood in a quick line for Anakin Skywalker, which the birthday boy really wanted to do.

My family pretty much did everything we wanted to do by 12:30. Star Tours, Padawan Training, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, meet-n-greets and photo ops, and Muppet 3-D. We ended up getting a Fast Pass to go on Star Tours a second time and I have to say, the second time was even BETTER. I love how they have different story lines and destinations!

We did end up missing this years Hyperspace Hoopla, because they only had 1 showing instead of the two shows they had 2 years ago. And I had to meet up with my sister at T-Rex Cafe to celebrate HER BIRTHDAY too! Yup! We celebrated 2 birthdays there – my sister and my son- so it was funtabulous!

Overall, LOVE Star Wars Weekend at Hollywood Studios. I can’t imagine a better time to visit that specific park. I’ll save the rest of the year for the other Disney Parks. If you are interested in going, there are three more weekends to attend. Star Wars Weekend(s) is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012. Learn more at DisneytheForce.com.

And if you like the shirts my boys are wearing – I bought them from MyEmmyBaby on Etsy! This is my second time making THIS PURCHASE from her! I bought two personalized Star War Shirts from her in 2008 for our first Star Wars weekend and got SO MANY COMPLIMENTS. And the boys loved them. So I had to buy them again! They are perfect for this event!

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Star Wars Weekend – 2008

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz family purchased their tickets and the shirts mentioned in this buzz.

But in the meantime, I brought the boys back to the pool for Spring Break to “warm up” their swimming skills. And luckily, my little one is still a fish. And it took my 5 year old a day to remember his strokes. And, to show off, here is my 4 year old diving for a toy in the pool. He loves to dive and is a powerful swimmer to reach the bottom.

Have you started swimming with your family yet?

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Gelarti Activity Pack

When Spring or Summer Break hits, you need plenty of ideas to keep the kids busy. You don’t want them watching tv or playing with electronics all day. Outside play is awesome, but eventually you need to hide from the heat – or the rain. So what can you do indoors?

Well, the boys and I painted Gelarti peel-off-stickers the other day. Gelarti is available exclusively at Toys“R”Us and a perfect activity for brightening indoor play while inspiring creativity.

There are a variety of activity packs to choose from and even a Gelarti Designer Studio that includes 30+ stickers, 4 Gelarti paint pens, 1 Double ended marbling tool and gem tool, 6 3D accessories, 12 gems,Activity Book, Glitter paints.That one retails for $24.99.

I received the Gelarti Activity Pack, which retails between $16.99 – $19.99. It came with 5 Glitter Gel Paints in green, pink, red, yellow and blue. It also came with 2 bag tags which could double as sun catchers, a marbling tool, a card and an activity book with ideas. Since my boys are 4 & 5, we stuck with coloring the stickers. You have to squeeze the paint gently, trying not to overfill the lines or sections.

That was the one thing I had to keep reminding the boys, squeeze gently! But they did really well, especially the 5 year old. They were both unique with their color combinations and choices. Like my 4 year old painted his dolphin red, pink, blue, and green. He loved it.When they were done filling up their stickers, which I think took 1/2 hour, we had to let them dry over night. Keep them away from pets and dusty areas, if it falls in the gel it will stay there!

No matter what color combos they chose, once the stickers dried they came out really cute. In places that the gel over flowed, I had to trim a little with scissor. But the boys peeled their gel stickers and stuck them on our glass door.

I admit the Gelarti Activity Pack is designed more with girls in mind, even though my boys love painting and stickers. The pack was heavy with hearts, butterflies and flowers. Their favorite stickers from the bunch were the dolphin, dog and chick. I wish there were sets that were designed with boys in mind – like Halloween, Monsters, Boy Rock, Ninjas – that kind of stuff.

Scene Pack. The Nature Scene Pack is the the most "boyish" option.

There are additional Gelarti Scene Packs which retail for $9.99 each. Scenes include:

• Funky Fun Girl Rock
• Ocean Mermaid
• Nature Butterflies
• Forest Creatures

Final thoughts: Fun for boys. Designed for girls. Best for ages 5 and up. Makes a great spring activity, summer indoor play or even an affordable birthday gift.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! TheMomBuzz received a sample to review.

One of my FAVORITE items is the Extreme Coaster. Everyone plays on it, kids of all ages. And yes, even I have been known to sneak a ride on the coaster going down. And – boys being boys – mine have put the Extreme Coaster on a small mound so that it rolls further. I have to admit, it’s more fun! You can read my review on the Extreme Coaster here: Extreme Coaster Review

An item I’ve had my eye on for my crazy guys is the Skyward Summit.  It’s over 7 feet tall with 100 square feet of climbing space. And there are all sorts of nooks and crannies for the kids to hide in. Not only is it fun, but it will help build upper body strength and coordination.

Currently we are playing with something a little more low-key for adventuresome boys. But although it doesn’t have them screaming or climbing, it does appeal to their “let’s get messy” side. It’s the Play Up Adjustable Sand and Water Table. It has two different side settings that let you raise or drop the table by 4″. For my 42″ boys I have the table at the highest setting. Assembly was easy, just me and my 4 year old worked on it together. It comes with an umbrella to offer some shade. I do wish there was a way to make the umbrella higher, since it’s just a little too low for my boys to stand on that side of the table.

The table is “divided” into sections. One has a water area, where you can put up two bridges and float two boats. The bridges and boats are included. The other side is meant for play sand. It comes with a sand tool that is a combination of a shovel and sand rake. I say that it is “divided” loosely, because there are actually play roads that lead from one section to the other. So it’s a great little area for small bulldozers, truck and cars.

It suggested that the sand area hold up to 10 pounds, but I think I put 15 pounds. I say that, because I bought a 50 pound bag of sand and I filled up the sand portion twice now. I still have some sand over, but it’s not much. And I pour around 6 Liters of water into the water side. That makes it a little high for the boats, but the boys quickly lower the water amount by using little included scoopers (that look like pant pots) to move water to the sand side.

Oh yah, I had to fill up the sand area twice with my boys. I am totally used to that. Ever since having a sand box, the boys were notorious for making the sand disappear. And yes, the sand will get mixed into the water. But that’s what makes it fun. Just scoop the sand back to the sand side when done.

For Florida moms, you are probably thinking standing water in the Sand & Water Table is a haven for mosquitoes. But you can drain the water with a plug on the bottom. It keeps the water in when you want it in and lets it completely dry when you want it empty. There is also a plug for the sand side.

Finally, it does come with a lid to cover the sand and water when not in use. It sits securely, as you can use elastics on the side to keep it tightly closed.

I like this sand box, because it’s easier to maintain than a typical ground-level sandbox. And I like the combination of sand and water, which makes it easier for the boys to build castles, as opposed to play sand by itself which never holds it shape.

The Adjustable Sand & Water Table retails for $69.99 from Step2.com. It’s suggested for ages 2 and up. If you are considering it as a gift for a child, I’d say purchase it for a child in the 2 – 3 range. They will easily play with it up to age 5 or 6. My boys both enjoy this table, and they are 4 & 5.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The MomBuzz did receive the Adjustable Sand & Water Table for review.

EyesCreamShades.com

Sunglasses have become a mainstay in the world of accessories. The fact that they combine both utility and style makes them extremely popular. Sunglasses were originally used strictly for eye protection. It was during the 1920’s, when extremely bright lights were used in a black and white film, that actors first used sunglasses in order to see a clear image. The actors then began to wear sunglasses when not filming to be more comfortable. Just like today, their fans imitated the look.

The technical purpose of sunglasses is to shield the eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays but they also provide comfort for the eyes by reducing glare and preventing the wearer from having to squint in bright light. Polarized lenses offer the best protection from glare. The two main materials used in lenses are polycarbonate and glass. Each offers excellent protection for the eyes, but high-end sunglasses usually have glass lenses. Although they are heavier and break more easily, they don’t scratch as easily as polycarbonate lenses.

Sunglass frames come in a multitude of styles and materials. They can be plastic or metal and just about any shape or color you can imagine. Some of the most popular sunglasses in the past five years include aviators and wayfarer styles. A metal frame that is flat on the top and curved along the bottom distinguishes aviator glasses from other styles. Aviators usually have dark lenses as well. The original design was made for pilots, lending to the name aviator. Over time the look caught on with the general public. Wayfarer sunglasses are another example of a classic style that has withstood the test of time. Since the 1950’s wayfarers have come in and out of favor, reemerging recently as a popular style.

Written by DicksCottons.com

With fun theme parks, kid-oriented attractions and sandy beaches, there is plenty to do in Florida. We are practically in the Spring Break State! But more often then not, we end up just north of Daytona at my parent’s beach house. And the boys are already buzzing about spending a week there. So what do we need to comfortably spend a week on the beach? Well, with two little boys it’s important to plan ahead so I always make a list for me and the boys. (I let my husband pack himself, which involves throwing shorts, t-shirts and undergarments in a bag moments before we leave.)

WEEK-LONG BEACH VACATION PACKING LIST

A. CLOTHES

• Clothes for me – shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, jeans, and a light long sleeve shirt or jacket (for cool nights).
• Clothes for the boys – I pack more items for the boys, since they are more likely to get a shirt dirty and need a change of clothes. But once again, I pack them shorts, tees, jeans and a light jacket.
• Undergarments - Underwear for me, underwear for the boys. I pack only 2 pairs of socks for everyone, because we are usually wearing flip flops, crocs, or cheap sanuk sidewalk surfers. You really don’t need too many socks when packing for the beach. And of course, a few pairs of bras are a must.

B. SWIMWEAR

• Bathing Suits for Me: For a week long trip to the beach I pack 3 bathing suits for me. I like to pack a mix of bikinis, tankinis and boy bottoms with a UV Swimwear top. This gives me a mix of options, plus allows them to dry out between wearings.
• Bathing Suits for the Boys: For the boys, I pack  3 bathing suit sets per child for the same reason. For them, I dress them in traditional swim trunks paired with a UV top or full UV protection body suits.

C. SUN PROTECTION

My husband and boys are very fair skinned. So I pack lots of different ways to protect us from UV rays, minimizing skin damage and sun burns.

• Family Sized Umbrella – I like the Sportsbrella.
• Sun Hats: Wide brim hats for the boys and me.
• Sun Screen: A spray can will last us 2 days, but it’s easier to apply. So I usually by one spray can and one tube of regular UV lotion – the highest UV protection we can get.
• Sunglasses: For me, I am loving the new Dea line of eyewear from deaeyewear.com. They fit awesome and aren’t too pricey – especially the Jacke-O style that I am in love with right now. For the boys, our go to is eyescreamshades.com.

D. SHOES:

I mentioned before that we don’t bring too many socks, since we are enjoying the sand between our toes. But when it comes to shoes, we try to pack light. We like:

• Crocs: For the boys, these are the ultimate summer shoes. Their feet can breathe in them, they dry quickly when wet and I can rinse them off easily when they get sandy.
• Sanuks, Flip Flops or Sandals: Sanuks are pretty much really comfortable beach sandals. If you want to own a pair it’s easier to find them online, especially if you want sanuks for a lower price.

E. BEACH EXTRAS:

• Beach bag: I love the one I got from Initials, Inc.
• Beach Caddy: I have one with two wheels. I suggest getting one with 4. I think it would be easier to handle. And they are AWESOME for lugging snacks, umbrellas, toys, skimmers, boogie boards, towels and more.
• Wagon: If you have little ones who can’t handle a walk to the beach, I love our red wagon. It has storage under the seats, a little door for easy entry and cupholders. Our boys are 4 and 5 and the wagon makes everything easier at the beach house.
• Towels: Don’t forget some extra large towels for sitting on and drying off.
• Coolers: Coolers for snacks or light meals is a must, so your food isn’t all warm.

F. TOILETRIES

Staying the night means bringing toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash for the kids and me. And then I also need to remember my hair iron, make-up and hair serum. We like liquid body wash for getting the sand off. Shampoo and conditioner. Finally, bring nail clippers. We end up having to buy a new set every time we go to the beach house, since we forget ours. We almost always get bothersome hangnails from the salt, sand and activity.

G. TOYS

Finally, don’t forget some fun toys. We bring:

• Sand Toys: Sand molds, buckets, shovels
• Skim Boards: A skinny board that lets you skim the very shallow waves.
• Boogie Boards: To ride the waves, without actually surfing.

The list is pretty complete, although you might want to add extras like magazines, books and e-readers to the list. Let me know what you pack for your beach trips in comments below!

Tip: Remember to thank any beach house hosts for allowing you to stay on their premises. Currently I have my eye on a beautiful lamp from Become.com. They have an amazing variety of options, whatever you are looking for in a lamp, see through shade, crystal, table, silver. They even have a lamp with a lighthouse that would be perfect in my parent’s beach house!

1. Proposal by Dolphin: I love this idea and my own husband says he would have proposed by dolphin if he knew about it 8 years ago. One of Discovery Cove’s bottle-nose dolphins will deliver a personalized buoy with your proposal. You can purchase this proposal package under the Perfect Day Package, which starts at $129. Perks depend on the Perfect Day Package you choose, and can include a private cabana, champagne, photos, roses and more.

2. Pop the Question in Ice: Every winter, Gaylord Palms displays impressive ice sculptures in a 20,000 winter wonderland exhibit called Ice. What can make their exhibit even cooler is popping the question in ice! They offer two packages, one is $199 and the other is $499. The $199 package includes VIP tickets, priority access, and a professional photographer who will discreetly follow and capture the proposal. But really, it’s the $499 package that will melt her heart on this one. They will carve “Will you Marry Me?” into an ICE! block and for $50 more they will include name personalization. How shocked will she be when she sees her name on Ice!?

3. Tiffany’s Treat: If you are purchasing the engagement ring from Tiffany’s – or even if you aren’t  – this is a sweet way to propose. Create a cupcake box using the Tiffany motif. Pop the engagement ring in the frosting as a topper. Finally, head to a Cupcake Boutique and ask them to pull this out when you order. You can also do this at a restaurant and have the server bring this out when you order dessert.

4. Photo Booth: Ever since I uploaded the Pop Booth App on my phone, I have been in photo-booth mode. Wouldn’t it be sweet to pop into a local, fair or boardwalk photobooth for a proposal. Pop in the quarters (or credit card) to start snapping. And then immediately propose! You’ll get a strip of priceless memories of her first expression at being asked to marry you!

5. Scavenger Hunt: I am adding this cute proposal idea, since this is how my husband proposed to me. He actually proposed on Easter and hid on a sand dune on the beach. I had to go find him and a giant egg, that was filled with goodies … including an engagement ring. You can go with the Easter Egg hunt on Easter or just make it a fun Scavenger Hunt any other day of the year.

Hope these unique marriage proposal ideas helped inspire you! And feel free to share how your proposal stories in comments below!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz.

Guests can purchase annual passes that include the attraction online at www.LEGOLAND.com and at AAA Auto Club South locations.  The Premium Pass includes unlimited admission to both LEGOLAND Florida and LEGOLAND Water Park, free parking and discounts within the park. The Premium Pass is $179 for adults and $149 for children 3-12 and seniors 60 and older.

One of my play-date friends was just buzzing about a new ice-show at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay that started yesterday, February 2nd. A cast of 20 will bring to life an all-new adventure filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars, with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace.

Iceploration inspires audiences to “explore the world” on a 30-minute journey to the four corners of the earth. This multi-sensory story, told through theatrical skating and an all-new original score, is the collaboration of an award-winning creative team with Broadway credentials, including Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Best Costume Design Tony winner 2007; Legally Blonde the Musical, Best Costume Design Tony nominee 2007).

The adventure unfolds as they arrive in the African Serengeti. Here, larger-than-life puppets and spectacular set design bring elephants and other awe-inspiring animals to life at a watering hole. Solo and chorus skating performances accompanied by acrobatics tell an anecdote of an agile cheetah stalking graceful gazelles and meerkats.

If you’re not already a fan, “like” Busch Gardens Tampa Bay at facebook.com or check out the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com to get insider updates on Iceploration and all of the park’s happenings.

This news was provided to theMomBuzz as a press release. She found it buzzworthy enough to share with her audience.

FEATURED PERFORMANCES: TheMomBuzz had the opportunity to go last weekend, when it first opened. We had a chance to see a LazyTown concert, which was loads of fun for the little ones. Some children were even dressed like Sportacus for the occasion and 3 children were invited on stage to help energize the crowd!

You will want to get to the park as soon as it opens, though, since seating is limited at the featured concerts. The concerts are held in the Nautilus theater and they give out tickets (for free) to the performances in a booth in front of the theater. There are different times printed on the ticket so you know when to arrive and be seated. But tickets will run out fast, so if you get to the park late, chances are there will be no more tickets.

Other featured performances include: Max & Ruby, Doodlebops and Choo-Choo Soul.

SHAMU’S PARTY ZONE: We ended up arriving at Shamu’s Party Zone later in the day. It seemed less crowded mid-afternoon, compared to just before noon. Shamu’s Party Zone is located at Lakeside Patio. There you will find interactive games, sea-themed sand art creations, character meet and greets, bubbles, face painting and dancing to fun tunes spun by a kid-friendly DJ!

If you are interested in the sand art and face-painting, be sure to bring some extra cash since there is a small fee to participate in those two activities.

FREE PRESCHOOL PASS: Children 5 and younger can experience family adventure for free at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens with the new Preschool Pass! It is unlimited admission with no blackout dates through 2012. This pass is a great way to experience the Just for Kids Festival. Plus, it can also be used for other special events like SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular and festive holiday events at both parks!

You must register for the pass online, they are NOT AVAILABLE AT THE GATE! If your child turns 6 during the year, they still get in free as long as you register before their birthday. And these Preschool passes are only good for Florida residents. Click here to access the pass: FREE PRESCHOOL PASS FOR CHILDREN 5 and Younger

FUN CARD: And the best deal you can get at SeaWorld, besides the Free Preschool Pass, is the Fun Card! When you purchase a Fun Card, you simply pay for a day and can come back all year with no blackout dates! A great way to experience Just For Kids Festival, along with future special events at SeaWorld Orlando.

Just-For-Kids Concert Info at a Glance:

Concerts are included with park admission and seating will be limited.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to the all new festival to learn more about the Just For Kids event. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!