Advance Look at Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8! @NintendoAmerica

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Advance Look at Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8
Launches May 30th- We Had A Sneak Peek
Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U doesn’t come out for almost a month (its official launch is May 30), but on May 1, we were treated to a special sneak peek at the game at Nintendo World in NYC. It looked INCREDIBLE! With 16 brand new tracks to race on, 16 remastered favorites from MarioKart games spanning throughout the franchise’s 20+ year history, MarioKart 8 is a splendid addition to the series.

The game is an excellent mix of new and classic elements, perfectly blending new features with the ones that fans loved about the other MarioKart games. Motorcycles (which debuted in MarioKart Wii) are still available to race in, and a slew of features from the 3DS’s MarioKart 7— including car customization, gliders, and underwater racing– are making their console debut. In addition to these mechanics, MarioKart 8 also introduces the ability to drive on walls and ceilings in certain areas of the tracks with new anti-gravity racing. When in anti-gravity mode, players can bump into each other to earn a speed boost and knock their friends off course, creating a double incentive to get aggressive in anti-gravity.

There are new characters and items too, like the Koopalings (who first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 and have recently been seen in New Super Mario Bros. U) and the Super Horn, the first item in the MarioKart franchise that can deflect the dreaded Blue Spiny Shell. As a family that’s been hooked on MarioKart since it debuted on the Super Nintendo back in 1992, MarioKart 8 was a treat for all of us… though the jury’s still out on who’s the best! I get the feeling we’ll settle it soon enough– with plenty of tournaments at home once the game comes out at the end of the month!
Disclosure: No compensation was given for this post. My family received an invitation to test out the WiiU game and have a sneak peek before the launch on May 30th. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan. Contact me at #ELGEorgia@aol.com. 

#Recipe and #Giveaway Happy Mother’s Day! Stop & Shop Honors Moms Everywhere With Delicious Recipes #Mommyandme

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Stop & Shop Honors Mommies Everywhere by Offering Easy and Delicious Recipes for the Kiddies and Parents to Make a Special Mother’s Day Brunch
Mother’s Day will be here this Sunday. It’s a very special day in our house. It always has been. Since I was a child I loved to honor my mom and grandma with special gifts of love. Now, being a mom of three I see just how special those precious gifts from the heart really can be. I treasure the memories of my older children making special trinkets and look forward to the gleam in my youngest daughter’s eyes as she surprises me on Mother’s Day! In celebration of mommies everywhere, Stop & Shop is offering a variety of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes to help the little ones (with help from a parent) prepare the perfect brunch and show their appreciation for everything that she does. What is more important than spending time together and creating memories that will last a lifetime?
“What better way to say ‘I Love You’ than a nice meal prepared with love by your children,” said Arlene Putterman, Manager, Public and Community Relations, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company – New York Metro Division.  “We wish all the mommies out there a Happy Mother’s Day and hope our recipes help create some joyful memories on this special day.”
Check out some of these amazing recipes that you can share together this Mother’s Day! Stop & Shop’s Mother’s Day recipes feature several delicious brunch and dessert dishes including “Fresh Fruit Yogurt Parfait,” which is below.  The full set of recipes can be viewed online at (http://recipes.stopandshop.com/mothers-day.html).
Ingredients
1/4 cup honey
2 cups low fat plain yogurt
2/3 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 cups fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries, etc.)
3/4 cup low fat granola
Directions
1.      Slightly soften the honey in the microwave so that it is easier to stir. cool.
2.      In a bowl, combine the softened honey with the plain yogurt and vanilla extract.
3.      Using parfait glasses, layer the honey mixture alternately with the fruit, ending with granola on top.
4.      Refrigerate until ready to serve

Stop & Shop stores are also offering special Mother’s Day gift items available for purchase, including a bouquet of a dozen roses for $14.99 or the “Just Add Ice” Orchid for $19.99.  Shoppers can also “Give Mom the Gift of Time” by shopping online (www.peapod.com) and having items delivered right to her door by Peapod.

Giveaway: You can grab a $25 Stop & Shop Gift Card here to shop for some of your favorite recipe foods!
Stop & Shop has it all! Our family is always there. This giveaway ends on Mother’s Day at 11:59pm. Winner will be notified on May 12th, 2014 and have 24 hours to claim prize by email before a new winner is chosen. Enter on the rafflecopter below. If you are on mobile it may take a few minutes to load in. Good Luck! Prize delivery via gift card through mail to your home address. Disclosure: No compensation was given for this post. Stop&Shop provided gift cards for me/winner. All opinions are my own. Please contact me at ELGeorgia@aol.com or .@3decades3kids everywhere else.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nintendo Preview: Kirby Triple Deluxe, Mario Golf: World Tour, and Tomodachi Life #TomodachiLife #KirbyTripleDeluxe #MarioGolf

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Nintendo Preview: Kirby Triple Deluxe, Mario Golf: 
World Tour, and Tomodachi Life
Recently I had the pleasure of attending an event at Nintendo World previewing three excellent upcoming titles for the 3DS, Mario Golf: World Tour and Kirby: Triple Deluxe (which hit shelves on May 2), and Tomodachi Life (available June 6.) Needless to say, the games were incredible– and there was something for everyone to enjoy!

My daughter Emily had tons of fun in Tomodachi Life, creating and dressing up her Miis, designing their rooms, and watching those zany characters interact. As a big fan of games like the Animal Crossing series, she had a blast with all of the wild encounters that Tomodachi Life had to offer!

On the milder side of things, my oldest son Louie found his match in Mario Golf: World Tour. The game incorporated many of the controls and mechanics he was already familiar with from games like the original Mario Golf for Nintendo 64 and its Gamecube follow-up, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, while also adding new ways to play. For example, the game allows you to use the gyroscopic sensor in the 3DS or 2DS to aim your swing for the perfect hole-in-one, an innovative use of the handheld system’s capabilities!

Finally, my middle son Adam really liked the new Kirby game, Kirby Triple Deluxe. He was thrilled to be able to play a 3DS game featuring one of his favorite Nintendo heroes (this is Kirby’s first appearance on the platform) and enjoyed the new powers that Kirby can absorb in this game. A particular favorite was the new Hypernova ability– it gives Kirby more suction than ever, letting him gobble up more obstacles, enemies, and even parts of the environment than he ever could before!

Be sure to keep an eye out for these three games– Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Tomodachi Life, and Mario Golf: World Tour– and plenty more from Nintendo. They’ve always got something new and exciting for the whole family!

Disclosure: We are a #GamerFamily and love #Nintendo. No compensation was given for this post. We were invited to a private event at Nintendo World NYC to preview the games and loved them. Thank you, Nintendo! Contact me at ELGEorgia@aol.com and everywhere else as .@3decades3kids.

#MothersDay #HersheyPA Treat Mom to Something Sweet in Hershey, PA #roadtrip2fun

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World’s Sweetest Gifts for the World’s Toughest Job
Treat Mom to Something Sweet in Hershey, PA
Mother’s Day will be here very soon. Being a mom is one of the most treasured experiences I could have ever asked for in my lifetime. Honestly, I’ve been at it now for twenty three years and since Emily is only seven it seems that I will be in it for quite a few years to come. Being a mom is not something I think about everyday, it’s just something that we women do. It comes with ups and downs and smiles and tears, sometimes many tears. It’s also a 24/7 job and lifetime commitment. Personally, I find Mother’s Day tough. It’s hard for me to sit back and be the one in the spotlight. I’m used to doing the running for everyone else, and I’m good with it. I feel happy with simple things and don’t need a stack of gifts lined up.
But, there is one thing that makes me happy right to the soul, that would be spending time with my family. When I think of the ultimate gift, I think a night away, time to hang out together and laugh and talk.
With my oldest son being twenty three, I kind of know how limited my time is there, so I grab time when I can. My middle son is a teenager, enough said. Emily still loves to spend every single minute as my little helper, so I’m enjoying that while it lasts. 
Recently I met up with Reeses from Hershey Pa and thought about how wonderful it would be for a Mom to spend Mother’s Day in Hershey Pa! Wow, now that sounds like an amazing plan if you are looking to spoil Mom! I’ll be sure to leave some hints around our house for hubby to pick up on-maybe a brochure or some Hersheys Kisses, or this blog post! lol

You could treat her to a getaway at one of The Official Resorts of Hersheypark, including The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge. Let Mom savor a culinary experience at one of the delectable dining venues Hershey offers:
  • The Circular, Trevi 5 and Harvest at The Hotel Hershey are offering delicious 3-course, prix fixe menus in addition to their a la carte dinner options.
  • The Chocolate Ballroom at Hershey Lodge will offer a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., featuring:
    • Breakfast options from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
    • Grilling options from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • Varieties of stations including tapas, carving, seafood
    • Kid’s buffet
    • Plenty of signature desserts!
Lebbie Lebkicher’s at Hershey Lodge is offering a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with tasty breakfast favorites, salads, various entrees, children’s selections, and an assorted dessert display.  The Hershey Lodge restaurants, including The Forebay, Hershey Grill, and The Bears’ Den will be offering Mother’s Day Specials in addition to their regular menus. For all dining information please visithttps://www.hersheypa.com/things_to_do/dining/#.
If you are looking for the ultimate way to pamper Mom, The Hotel Hershey offers special Chocolate Spa treatments, including the Rejuvenating Geranium & Rose Package as low as $330 Monday-Thursday and $350 Friday-Sunday. The package features three unforgettable experiences:
  • Geranium and Rose Hydrating Body Wrap
  • Rose Garden Renewal Facial
  • Rose Garden Hand Treatment (includes full manicure)
From now until May 12, 2014, guests who spend $200 or more on Spa gift cards will receive a $25 credit towards Spa services*. This is the perfect gift for Mom to schedule a treatment at her convenience!
A special Mother’s Day trunk show is scheduled from May 9th-11th at The Jeweler At The Hotel Hershey. Martha Smith, a local jeweler, will showcase her beautiful Silver & Stone Artisan Jewelry, crafted from mixed metals, semi-precious stone, pearls, crystal and hand blown lampwork glass.
Escort Mom through the memorable Hershey Gardens where, free of charge, she will enjoy 23 acres of botanical beauty overlooking The Sweetest Place On Earth.
Hersheypark will be open on Mother’s Day weekend, so bring the whole family to celebrate together over thrills and chills. For more information about hours of operation and new attractions at the Park, please visit www.Hersheypark.com.

For more information please call the Hershey Lodge at (717) 508-1957 or The Hotel Hershey at (717) 508-1958. You can also visitwww.HersheyPA.com to learn more about how to celebrate Mom on her special day.

Disclosure: There was no compensation given for this post. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan. Please Contact me at ELGeorgia@aol.com or on twitter .@3decadesekids. #familytravel #Roadtrip2fun

Burlington Coat Factory! A #MustDo for #Fashion

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Burlington Coat Factory 
A Must Do For Fashion Seekers
Recently I was given the opportunity to shop via The Moms and Burlington Coat Factory.
Honestly I had no idea about what to expect from the experience. I had only been inside a Burlington Coat Factory one time and it was for a few minutes a couple of years ago. Besides that I had no clue about it at all. Well, before I begin, I’m officially obsessed with Burlington! I was shopping for myself, but I will be going back to shop for the family! You can find everything you need under one roof at Burlington Coat Factory.
Now, back to my trip. As a plus size woman, I am constantly on the hunt for attractive clothing. Factor in that I am constantly at events and being photographed and it really makes the fashion seeking game a lot more complicated. Being stylish has nothing to do with size. It’s a matter of being able to find “the look” and putting it together. My eyes are always open and in search of “that” special outfit. Usually I buy my clothes ahead of time, I know the events are coming, so I need to be prepared.

Now, when I tell you that I was shocked at the variety of clothing and the racks to choose from it would be an understatement in itself. Hubby dropped me off and I remember saying, “I’m just going to grab something and I’ll be right out!”. Fast forward an hour and me in Burlington utopia and of course fifty texts from hubby, I was able to narrow down my search to a dress I love, a casual top, some amazing accent jewelry and footwear. It was tough to hang up those other dresses and I just may have to go back very soon. There may even have been some hinting that a Burlington Gift Card would be a more than perfect Mother’s Day gift. Sure hope that hubby took the hint! 

 
By the way, please excuse my dressing room pics. I just couldn’t help but share them with you.
One last thing, the prices!! Wow! The prices. They are amazing, just amazing! The dress I purchased was $16.99. Yes, you are reading it correctly, $16.99. Seriously? The prices of the clothing I tried on ranged from $9.99 to $19.99. I did keep checking the tag to see if I was reading it correctly. If you are in need of a fashion fix, definitely head to Burlington Coat Factory. PS. I’m available to accompany you!

Disclosure: I was provided with a gift card to experience Burlington Coat Factory. No other compensation was given for this post. All opinions are that of  Diane Sullivan. Contact me at ELGeorgia@aol.com and everywhere else at .@3decades3kids. #Fashion