Happy Birthday At American Girl Cafe NYC Celebration!

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Happy Birthday! Emily Turns Twelve- Let’s Celebrate At American Girl Cafe Rockefeller Center, NYC

Sometimes life is just surreal. It feels like that to me every time a birthday rolls around. I had to reach deep into my soul last week and just feel so grateful for the gift of my children. Emily is my last one, my last baby, my little surprise. Now she is turning twelve. It’s hard to believe. Where did the past twelve years go? Next year she will be a teenager and we all know there is no turning back from there. So, I took a deep breath and just enjoyed every minute of Emm’s birthday right along with her. Of course I could not help but look at her sitting there all beautiful and so grown up and think back to her first celebration at American Girl Cafe when she turned THREE, yes three years old. It seems that she has loved American Girl forever but I know it won’t last forever. I know that day is coming so very soon. It kind of has for the most part. But if she wants to drag out her favorite American Girl dolls and bring them to her party, who am I to stop her?

By the way Emmy(the Bitty Baby) was her first Bitty Baby and Emily was her first American Girl doll that was given to her by her Grandma at my baby shower before she was even born. They have been along for the ride this entire time. They have been at every party and shared so many cups of tea at our tea parties over the years that I have lost count. They have been part of the memories in the making and I think I love them as much as Emm does.

This was our first year celebrating Emily’s birthday at the American Girl’s Cafe new location in Rockefeller Center. Last year we skipped because they had just opened and honestly we were not ready to make the switch. The new location is quite different than the old one on 5th Avenue. But this year we celebrated and although the new cafe is not as grand or fancy it still was beautiful. It still worked. It still was just absolutely perfect. And I still got a tears in my eyes as Emm took a breath to blow out the candles. How did I ever get so lucky? How do I deserve this? I’m not really sure, but I am really grateful.

As I sat there I questioned if she was too old to be there. I got a sign a big sign. At the table for two next to us they seated a Mom and her eighteen year old daughter and I knew we were fine. I looked around and saw other children in the room much older than twelve. And my tug of war with reality ended right there. So we ate heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and sipped on pink lemonade and shared happy stories about everything you think of and we just sat frozen in that moment of happiness. After all, these are the moments we live for, right? It’s not the big events we are invited to or the new cars or vacations, it’s all about when you look across the table and see your child happy, smiling and just living in the moment. I hope I never forget that day or that moment. I hope I remember it forever…and I hope Emm remembers it, too and remembers just how much I love her.

Memory Lane….

Disclosure: This is a personal post. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across all social networks.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas Now Available On PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

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Starlink: Battle for Atlas Now Available On PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

*This is a sponored post by BSMmedia. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented.

Recently our family was invited to the Nintendo Store NYC to check out the new Ubisoft video game Starlink: Battle for Atlas. If you know our family you already know that we all are gamers from youngest to oldest. We game together as a family and alone. So when we heard about the new Starlink game we were pretty excited to see exactly what it was made of and if it was something we would want to play. We found out pretty fast that Starlink: Battle of Atlas fills the void between kiddie video games and violence based games. That is perfection in my eyes! Since Emily is a tween and sees her older brothers playing some more mature games it’s easy for her to want to join in. As a mom I’m trying to keep the violence to a minimum no matter what the age level.  I’m pleased to say that younger gamers can have the excitement of more violent games that moms aren’t ready to expose them with Starlink. The game was designed by parents of tweens so that their own children had an option for video games. Game On!! Game On!!

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is the newest toys-to-life sci-fi adventure from Ubisoft, and it’s one of the best experiences the Nintendo Switch currently has to offer. In Starlink, players control their very own customizable starship, where different pieces and weapons can be swapped out in real-time. The game also features a variety of pilots, and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version comes the addition of Star Fox, a beloved character in the gaming world. Players will be glad to see that not only Star Fox makes an appearance, but also his supporting cast of characters such as Slippy Toad and his arch-nemesis Wolf O’Donnell. The Star Fox adventure includes both the iconic Star Fox as a pilot figure, alongside his signature Arwing Starship.

The addition of Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch version of the game adds a lot to the overall experience, as the game’s cast directly interacts with the pilot. Fox appears in cutscenes, and looks amazing on the Snowdrop engine, which was used to develop the game. The inclusion of one of our favorite Nintendo characters definitely improved what is already an incredible campaign. Cutscenes look amazing across all platforms, and the story is well fleshed-out and keeps players hooked. The game takes around 15-20 hours to complete, which is perfect for a Switch title. The campaign definitely has enough to offer and there’s tons of exploring to do.
Families can get in on Starlink’s action as well, since the game features local split-screen co-op capability. Players can work together traversing the game’s vast open world and completing challenges all on the same screen, which is definitely a perk in a world full of online-only titles. The game’s world is absolutely stunning. with seven planets ripe for exploration. In this open-world environment, players are free to fly around, explore, and, of course, engage in combat against the dangers of the worlds. Each planet feels unique in its own way, offering different forms of life and different overall experiences For example, Tundria is an ice-based planet full of ice ridges and methane pools, where a planet such as Kirite is more desert-like and beautiful.
For those concerned about the game being toy-based, all additional content that is available physically can be purchased on the eShop or other digital stores. Plus, every physical item purchased can be used without a figure in-game for 7 days, so gamers don’t have to bring the toys everywhere they go, especially in the car. However, having the actual figures definitely adds a lot to the experience, and having the Arwing sitting on our coffee table is a nice addition over the digital version. Starlink’s closed environment gives Moms  a sense of security while still offering your tween a deep level of play and you don’t have to worry about your child talking with strangers within the game frame. That is something that is always on my mind! This game will definitely keep your tween engaged.  The game has enough play to keep kids interested for a long time.
Overall, Starlink: Battle for Atlas is nothing short of amazing, from the integration of real-life figures into the game to its gripping story and action sequences. There’s lots to do, plenty of worlds to see, and hours of fun to be had. We loved checking out the game’s Switch-exclusive Star Fox content, and would highly recommend diving into those bonus missions. Starlink provides players with an authentic gaming experience for all ages, and definitely should not be missed this year on the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Kid Reviewers- #GamerFamily We Love to Game!
Disclosure: *This is a sponored post by BSMmedia. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or on all socials at @3decades3kids.  3decades3kids.net  #NintendoSwitch #GamerFamily #Gamer 

Bake It Happen In 2018 And Help Metastatic Breast Cancer #BakeItHappen

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Bake It Happen In 2018 And Help Metastatic Breast Cancer #BakeItHappen

Every year when October comes around it makes me think of my mom even more than usual. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For the past few years I have been partnering up with www.BakeItHappen.net to spread the word about Metastatic Breast Cancer to which there is no cure.

This October, all you do is bake our featured recipe(s) and share them with the people in your life and on social media. Every time a photo is shared with #bakeithappen (or emailed to ubakeithappen@gmail.com, we’ll donate $5 per pictures to our partner The Cancer Couch Foundation.  100% of this money will in turn get doubled and be used to fund Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research. You can also click here to donate: www.bakeithappen.net/donate  The only way to put an end to breast cancer is to fund research to help find a CURE for MBC. 100% of people diagnosed with MBC will die. Those are some pretty bad odds.

The best news is you that you can BAKE and also DONATE (as baking only yields a $5 donation) so why not do both?!?!

The reason I love Bake It Happen and support it every year is that my mom had breast cancer. It’s something that changes not only the person who has it but the entire family. Now as far as recipes go we can’t just give them away. You can sign up for them on the Bake It Happen website.  Another great partner is  Taste Buds Kitchen – they’re hosting Bake it Happen classes for kids  under 8  in their kitchens across the US and giving a  percentage to The Cancer Couch Foundation www.tastebudskitchen.com.  In addition,  Carousel Cakes  is helping out, too with  the purchase of their Pink Velvet Cupcakes, they’ll donate 10% of total purchases to The Cancer Couch Foundation https://www.carouselcakes.com/buy-online/cupcakes-treats/cupcake-pink-velvet-12.html.

Is there any better way to donate than to bake something. So easy and so much fun.

#baking #breastcancer #cancersucks #fundthecure #dontignorestagev #foodie #nomnom #baketodonate #MBC

 

 

Instant Family Advance NYC Free Movie Screening

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Instant Family Advance NYC Free Screening And You Are Invited!

We are thrilled to invite some of our 3decades3kids readers to the advance NYC free screening of  Instant Family.

Click here to claim tickets: https://splashthat.com/sites/view/instantfamily1017.splashthat.com

Please remember to arrive early.  Screenings are overbooked to ensure a full house.

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Bryne, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Isabel Moner and Margo Martindale

Director: Sean Anders

Synopsis: When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl (Isabela Moner), they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family.

Release: In Theaters November 16

NYCC Marvel’s Daredevil Season 3- Let There Be Darkness

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NYCC New York Comic Con- Marvel’s Daredevil Season 3- Let There Be Darkness

Today was filled with pure awesomeness when it came to NYCC! The Marvel’s Daredevil panel raved about Season 3! OMG!!! Bullseye is coming up on this season. Who’s ready for this major Daredevil villain? ME!! Looks like we are also going to learn more about Froggy’s background- Matt Murdock’s best friend and law partner.

After missing for months, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) reemerges a broken man. Of course putting into question his future as both vigilante Daredevil and aspiring lawyer Matthew Murdock. But when his archenemy Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) is released from prison, Matt must choose between hiding from the world or embracing his destiny as a hero. Marvel’s Daredevil season three launches worldwide on Netflix October 19. Who’s going to be with me that day streaming it all?!! Bring on Season 3. We’re ready for you. netflix.com/marvelsdaredevil

Marvel’s Daredevil Season 3 stars Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock), Vincent D’Onofrio (Wilson Fisk), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), and introduces Jay Ali (Agent Rahul “Ray” Nadeem), Joanne Whalley (Sister Maggie), and Wilson Bethel (Agent Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter). Blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the Super Hero “Daredevil” in modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City.


Marvel’s Daredevil Season 3 is produced for Netflix by Marvel Television and ABC Studios

What to follow Daredevil across all socials?

Facebook // https://www.facebook.com/Daredevil/

Twitter // https://twitter.com/Daredevil

Instagram //  https://www.instagram.com/daredevil/

Hashtag // #Daredevil

Disclosure: All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the views of the parent company represented. Contact Diane for collabs at Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across all social media platforms. 3decades3kids.net  Media Press pass provided for the purpose of  NYCC coverage.