As much as I love the internet for the ability to connect with people and friends and moms, sometimes I find it terribly depressing. I read stories of loss and it’s almost too much. The latest example? Layla Grace passed away on Tuesday, just days after the awesome auction to raise money to help pay for her treatment.
Sadly, I have another story to share with you. My friend Rhea (from Mommy 23 Monkeys) has a young family member who only weeks ago was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma – the same form of cancer as Layla Grace. Today, Rhea’s family is doing everything they can to spread the word about Penny, a little girl with a big fight on her hands.
When Lesley of Project Mommyhood contacted me the other day to let me know about an auction she’s organizing to benefit Layla Grace, I admit I was clueless as I haven’t been following the little girl’s story. But I quickly learned the 2 year old who is losing her battle with cancer has touched many, including Lesley who is working hard to raise money for a suffering family in need.
Layla Grace’s Story
Layla has a massive cancerous tumor (Stage 4 Neuroblastoma) in her abdomen. It extends from above her left kidney, around her side, over her belly and wraps around her aorta. In addition, the cancer is in her bone marrow.
Our sweet Layla went from normal happy and healthy to lethargic, in pain, and skin and bones in a matter of a week and a half.
Even if Mother Nature isn’t aware and may not be cooperating, it is March! And spring is just around the corner. To welcome the (hopefully) warmer weather Emilie from Baby Loving Mama and I are hosting a Spring into Spring blog bash! Starting in April we will feature the best toys, products, clothes and gear you need this spring.
Do you want a bonus entry into every Spring into Spring giveaway on The Shopping Mama and Baby Loving Mama? Of course you do! Grab the button and put it on your blog. Leave a comment to let me know you did.
We’re in the process of lining up some great sponsors and we can’t wait to share the products with you. If you are a business owner interested in generating buzz about your product or company through a review or giveaway, please email me for more information.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with Jeff Corwin, best known for being the cute guy on Animal Planet (at least that’s how I knew him), on Skype about an exciting contest. When he’s not traveling the world, Jeff lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young daughters and he’s called the area his home all his life. He’s teamed up with Lunchables in the Lunch, Roar & Score Sweepstakes to host and tour his favorite spots in Boston with some lucky kids and their families.
Lunch, Roar & Score Sweepstakes
10 (yes, TEN!) lucky families will win the following amazing prize package:
Airfare and accommodations for 3 day / 2 night trip to Boston, MA
A welcome dinner with Jeff Corwin
A behind-the-scenes zoo tour with Jeff Corwin
VIP experience at the aquarium
A whale watching experience
$1000 Spending cash
To enter, visit the Lunchables Lunch Roar & Score website, click ENTER NOW and enter by May 3 – and you can enter every day. This one’s for the kids, so you must be between the ages of 6 and 17 to enter.
Jeff Corwin Interview
To help spread the word about the awesome Lunchables giveaway, I had the opportunity to speak with Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin. He was very gracious and so fun to chat with. He developed a love of animals early in his life and encourages parents to provide opportunities to their kids so they can find their passion. When asked how parents can engage their children, he said “Explore your own back yard!”
Check out the interview, which includes some questions readers of The Shopping Mama suggested on Facebook.
*** The video needs to be edited to be shorter! Ugh. It should be back up this afternoon so stop by later to watch.***
Win! Lunchables’ Lunch, Roar & Score gift pack complete with a Jeff Corwin book, two Animal Planet kid’s hoodies and an Animal Planet “Growing Up Baby Animal Adventures” DVD set.
How to Enter: Leave a comment telling me your child’s favorite animal. That simple!
Bonus Entries – leave a separate comment for each you do:
The Fine Print: Giveaway ends March 10. Open to US mailing addresses, including APO & FPO boxes. Thanks to Jeff Corwin, Lunchables, Animal Planet and Weber Shadwick for arranging the interview and providing a giveaway prize. The opinions are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.
On our recent trip to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we had the amazing opportunity to stay at a beautiful Orlando-area vacation rental home from Global Resort Homes. The experience, our first in a vacation home, was quite different (in some really good ways) from staying at a Disney resort hotel.
Orlando Vacation Home Rental
There are obviously many differences between staying at a hotel and a vacation home. First and most obvious is the size difference. Hotel rooms, even at the more luxury hotels at Walt Disney World, are only about 800 square feet – one room, one bathroom. I often feel cramped and claustrophobic as soon as the bags are unloaded. On the other hand, a vacation home has a living room, kitchen, separate bedrooms and bathrooms. In other words, you have plenty of space to relax and put your feet up even after you unpack.
A Comfortable Home
I admit to being a tad apprehensive about staying at a vacation rental home. This was our first experience staying in a rental home as a family and it was our first time to Disney not staying at a resort hotel. One of my fears was that it I would feel uncomfortable and not quite “at home” in someone else’s house. From the moment we walked in the door to the spotless and tastefully decorated home, I was comfortable and my apprehension was gone. Honestly, I kind of imagined it might feel like staying at a relative’s house where everything is nice and comfortable but you feel like you’re walking on eggshells and you can’t really relax. Thankfully, I was wrong. The decor is so neutral and attractive that it’s really comfortable. It looked like what I wish my house looked like and we just made ourselves right at home.
Room to Relax (and Save)
For our family with young kids one of the absolute worst parts about staying at a hotel is trying to get the kids to go to sleep. We’ve swapped war stories with other parents about hiding in the bathroom after putting the kids to bed so they won’t see us and get distracted. And, even if you stay out of sight, a single room is simply not conducive to multiple sleep schedules, bedtime routines and getting a good night’s sleep. At our vacation home, each of our kids was in their own bedroom. Putting them to bed was almost as easy at it is at home, and our toddler really got into the idea that he had his own new bedroom for the week.
I feared we might miss out on some “Disney magic” staying off-site, but I have to tell you we really didn’t miss anything.
Rental Home vs. Disney Hotel
We’ve been to Walt Disney World twice as a family. The first time we stayed on site in a Disney “moderate resort” and on our recent trip we stayed in a vacation home located several miles from Walt Disney World. While Disney does have a lot of free transportation between parks and resorts, we just found it easier to drive our car every day to the different parks while we stayed at the resort. So, the transition to staying off-site and driving to the park every day was not difficult for us. The drive from our rental home to each park was about 10 minutes. It was really convenient, and the roads are well marked to get you where you want to go.
Granted, staying off-site will require a car of some sort, so if you fly into Orlando you would need to rent a car. Another downside is that you have to pay to park at Disney when you are not staying at a Disney resort. The Windsor Hills resort where our home is located does offer a shuttle to Disney parks, Universal and SeaWorld for a fee, but we did not use this service so I can’t speak to its value.
Another major consideration is food. If staying off-site you are not eligible to purchase the Disney Dining Plan. However, you do have a fully equipped kitchen so you can buy, store and prepare your own food. The first night we arrived at the house we stocked up on some basics at the local grocery store. We ate breakfast at our home every night, had fresh baked cookies at night and could have easily cooked every meal there. The stainless steel kitchen appliances were awesome and there was literally every single gadget, pot and pan you would need to prepare meals.
Why Global Resort Homes?
About Global Resort Homes
Since 1993, Global’s mission is to set a new standard of quality in the Orlando Disney vacation home market and maintained a distinctive level of service for homeowners and their guests.
Global has continued to grow and evolve with the changing times and continues to be at the forefront of the vacation home industry in both vacation home rentals and real estate sales. Today, Global’s team of over 50 professionals maintain and manage over 200 resort homes and Global’s Real Estate team consists of over 35 Real Estate professionals. Global’s dedication and commitment to its guests and homeowners remains and will continue to be the very essence of the company.
Our Global Resort Home Experience
Our experience with Global Resort Homes was nearly flawless. And, in Orlando where location and proximity to the attractions is key, Global Resort Homes has an assortment of properties near Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal. From 2-bedroom condominiums to spacious 7-bedroom homes, Global Resort Home properties are located in resort communities that offer added benefits and amenities to enhance the experience.
Windsor Hills, the resort community where we stayed, has many amenities.
2 bedroom condos, 2 & 3 bedroom townhomes, 3 to 6 bedroom homes
Homes have private screened swimming pool and spa
Townhomes have small pool
Master suite with king or queen size bed and TV
Master bathroom with garden tub and separate shower
Fully equipped kitchens with breakfast area and formal dining area
One or two living areas with TV, VCR or DVD player
Washer and dryer
Homes available with game rooms that include billiards, table tennis and air hockey
Homes available with play stations for kids
Our main issue with the home had to do with our kids “exploring” the home, which wasn’t childproofed. Within 5 minutes of arriving, my daughter pulled a place mat from the beautifully set dining room table and broke a plate and bowl in the process. Global Resort Homes was very gracious about it and said “No worries, things happens.” In fact, when things break (within reason), Global Resort Homes replaces them at no charge to the guest.
Tour Our Home
Overall, I highly recommend Global Resort Homes. We had a beautiful home and certainly didn’t feel like anything was missing from our Disney experience. What we lacked in proximity to the parks, we made up for space, comfort and excellent sleep for all of us.
To Rent or Not to Rent
To Rent… We had an amazing experience staying in the Windsor Hills resort. I think the vacation rental home is perfect for families – large and small – the separate bedrooms, kitchen and amenities are invaluable. It’s a great option for traveling with extended family, too, as you can all be together but have your own bedrooms and private space. And, how much fun would it be to rent a large home and split the cost with another family?
Or Not to Rent… You’ll have to rent a car to get around the area and will have to pay for parking at local theme parks and attractions. Vacation homes lack the convenience of hotels (no concierge, maid service, etc), but they do have the comfort of home and that’s worth a lot when traveling as a family.
Rental Rates: Vacation rentals with Global Resort Homes start as low as $79 a night. 2-bedroom condominiums in the Windsor Hills resort are available from $122 per night, and 5 bedroom homes like the one where we stayed are available for $278 a night.
Plan Your Vacation Today! If you have any questions about Orlando Vacation Homes with Global Resort Homes, call 877-582-6967 or visit Global Resort Homes online.
Disclosure: Thank you to Global Resort Homes for providing a resort home for the purposes of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.
Do you watch The View? I do. Well, the days I’m home and it’s not interrupted by a totally unnecessary press statement by Tiger Woods, I do. And, I have been watching it for years. And years. I honestly remember watching The View from my dorm room junior year of college almost every day before lunch.
Needless to say, I’m kind of intrigued and excited by the opportunity to be a Brand Ambassador for The View! What does that mean exactly? Well, I’ll be getting the inside scoop on upcoming guests and topics, as well as the opportunity to provide feedback directly to the ABC daytime marketing team.
I honestly hope to have and be able to share YOUR feedback, too. So, if you watch The View, I’d love to hear from you over the next month as I post about the show weekly. But first, I’m interested to know how many of you actually watch The View?
Do you watch The View?
You bet, every Monday through Friday! (50%, 3 Votes)
Ew, never. (33%, 2 Votes)
Eh, every once in a while. (17%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 6
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If you’re a fan, you should check out the sweepstakes on Mom Central to win a trip to New York City to watch a taping of The View! Open until February 28, all you have to do to enter is complete this sign-up survey.
Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.
I just want to write quickly to apologize for the technical difficulties on The Shopping Mama today. What a disaster! Seriously. So freaking annoying. Apparently my account was disabled (without warning) for abuse related to spam comments. I’m still not sure if it received obscene amounts of spam or was sending spam or what.
In any case, I’m working with my hosting company to resolve the issue to allow you to comment. This blog isn’t much fun without the ability to comment!
I have a big giveaway that is supposed to go live tomorrow (Sunday), but I won’t post it until this issue is resolved. And, due to today’s problems, I’m extending the Macy’s giveaway.
Thanks for sending me emails and tweets to let me know The Shopping Mama was all kinds of crazy. I appreciate your help and patience!
Preschool Boy got a great thrill when he met and chatted up Mickey and Minnie at a dance party this evening at Hollywood Studios. After an awesome family dinner with newfriends, all the conference attendees had the opportunity to ride Toy Story Mania after the park closed. We rode three times and somehow my score did not improve. Hmph.
Not surprisingly, Walt Disney World hosted an amazing event and I was really impressed with every meal and family party. We really had a blast and felt pretty special.
Before the fun this evening, I spent the day listening to inspiring speakers and meeting greatbloggingfriends. Here’s the Whrrl from conference sessions.
I had hoped to blog and get some work done in the evenings, but I am wiped out! Totally exhausted. So, I’m taking the easy way out tonight and sharing the Whrrl story about this mornings events at the Disney Social Media Mom Celebration. First up this morning was a breakfast with marketing guru and Twitter mega-star Guy Kawasaki. He was entertaining and informative, and I admit much more enjoyable than I expected.
Next up was an event to celebrate extraordinary volunteers from across the country. Disney has declared 2010 the year to Celebrate Volunteers and they’re giving an incentive to get out and get active in your community. This year, when you “Give a Day, you Get a Disney Day.” That means, when you spend one day helping a participating charity you receive a free one day pass to any Disney park. And, of course, you get all the personal satisfaction that comes with volunteer work. It’s a pretty neat program and so far this year over 600,000 people have committed to one day of service!
We ended the evening with a dinner under the stars featuring some Disney Channel stars. Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato sang a new song for the Friends for Change campaign called “Make a Wave.”
Oh, and in between everything official, we rode the “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” no less than 3 times. Preschool Boy is a tad obsessed!
Things will be back to normal “Shopping Mama” stuff when I get home. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the updates from Disney.
Disclosure: My family and I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration; however, the price was discounted and we received some complimentary items to enhance the Disney experience.
You Can Help
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with 
A Comfortable Home
Our experience with Global Resort Homes was nearly flawless. And, in Orlando where location and proximity to the attractions is key, Global Resort Homes has an assortment of properties near Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal. From 2-bedroom condominiums to spacious 7-bedroom homes, Global Resort Home properties are located in resort communities that offer added benefits and amenities to enhance the experience.
Do you watch The View? I do. Well, the days I’m home and it’s not interrupted by a totally unnecessary press statement by Tiger Woods, I do. And, I have been watching it for years. And years. I honestly remember watching The View from my dorm room junior year of college almost every day before lunch.
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