Adventures of a Military Family of 8: April 2010

Join us for Build-A-Bear Workshop Military Moms Twitter Parties- Two Chance to Join in on the Fun!

I want to share some wonderful news with you!!!!!

Hoping that everyone knows my passion for all things Military-friendly,
Mom Select has partnered with Build-a-Bear for a great event, and I am super excited to share it with you ;)

Read on and I will talk to you at the bottom of this WONDERFUL AND AWESOME Announcement ;)....

Build-A-Bear Workshop Military Moms Twitter Parties

Some companies just have a way of capturing our hearts by showing us that they care! Build-A-Bear Workshop® is a perfect example of a brand that is dedicated to supporting families. As if we needed another reason to LOVE everyone's favorite Teddy Bear experience, they are offering a special to military families!

From May 3 to June 7 2010, members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps will receive a 20% discount on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores with the presentation of a government issued military identification card.

In 2002, Build-A-Bear Workshop partnered with the USO (United Service Organization) by donating almost 20 thousand bears for military families. Since then they have continued to support the USO in different ways. This year, Build-A-Bear Workshop is inviting Guests to donate $1 at checkout registers at all Build-A-Bear Workshop locations in the United States.

Build-A-Bear doesn't only want to provide you with a discount; they want to get to know you too! That's why they are sponsoring TWO 30-min twitter parties so our friends on both coasts can salute our military heroes.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® Military Moms Twitter Parties

Dates:
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 7 p.m. EST/10 p.m. PST

Location: #BABWMilitary
Host: @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)

Whether you're part of a military family or just want to express your thanks to those everyday heroes, we'd love for you to join us.In addition to sharing stories and gratitude, we'll also be giving away great prizes during each 30-minute event! Our friends at Build-A-Bear Workshop offer so many furry friends inspired by the armed forces, which would definitely brighten the day of servicemen and women and their families.

Of course, there is a pre-party prize for grabs! Enter to win a $25 Build-A-Bear Workshop® gift card by:

Clicking HERE to register
Tweeting the details of either party on the day of the event

As always, be sure to follow @ResourcefulMom and @MomTalkRadio throughout the evening for updates, prize information and contest details.

We're so excited to party with you and your family! Feel free to contact Amy@bsmmedia.com with any questions.

Warm Regards,

Your Friends at MomSelect.com and Build-A-Bear Workshop®

Now you see why I was SO excited to tell you?!!??!

If you remember, I wrote a post about how much The USO means to our Family, and of course as does The Military ;)

So when I was given the opportunity to scream to all of my friends (that means you) about these events, and at the same time
not only give our Military a MUCH DESERVED DISCOUNT ;) but...
HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE USO,

I was completely and extremely excited!!!! ;)

I will be there for BOTH Twitter parties, come over and party-hardy!!!
Please share with all of your friends, Military and non-Military of course,
every $1 donation to The USO goes A LONG WAY!!!!

You can find me on Twitter at: @MilitaryFamof8

Mother's Day Gift Guide!!!!!!

I just wanted to stop by and show you my Mother's Day Gift Guide ;)
The link to the guide is: http://bit.ly/bzewdmand as my opinion goes, Mother's Day should be more of a month celebration, not just one day, so my gift guide will be on through the entire month of May ;)
Make sure you check in often, I will be listing MANY reviews and giveaways for all to enjoy ;)
Here is a peek of what the gift guide page looks like:

I am SO happy to Announce,

that I have my First ever

Gift Guide, and it's just in time for Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!

and...
because I BELIEVE that us Mother's DESERVE a whole month of celebration instead of one day, Special Mother's Day picks will be reviewed and showcased here for the entire month of May ;)

A series of products that I, as well as other Mother's will LOVE!!!

So go ahead and enter the giveaways during the

Mother's Day Gift Guide weeks,

win the great prizes for yourself or for that special Mother in your life ;)

Want to add the button to your site for extra entries?

Oopsy Personalized Products!!!

Win Custom Designed Shirt from Oopsy!! Perfect Mother's Day Gift!! Ends 5/3

2. Win your choice of Joey Junior Purse organizer!!! Perfect Mother's Day Gift, or a treat for yourself! ENDS 5/13

MAMAFEST IN SAN DIEGO ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come one, come all weather short or tall where the mamas unite

on a Friday night.

So leave the hubbies at home and put the kids to rest

and come have a good time at the "MAMAFEST".

6 to 9 is the time and May 7th is the day

for some time out the house for a mini getaway.

Where you ask? The New Children's Museum, that's where.

With so much to do for a $15 fare.

But if you act now cause they're so nice

you can buy tickets in advance and take $5 off the price.

Their will be food and drinks and goody bags to keep

with silent auctions and prizes in heeps.

With sponsors from Stroller Strides and P.A.M to Lunafest

this is guaranteed to be a great Mamafest!!!

Thanks San Diego Bargain Mama for giving me the opportunity to scream to San Diego about this event.
Check out her site for local deals and steals.
Email her at Contest@SanDiegoBargainMama.com for a chance to win a set for free!
Just let her know why you need this special day out and one lucky winner will be notified on Thursday!
Want to be sure to go?

Get your tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/94504.

Tag, you're it!!! (new list starts on Tuesday)

Guess what?! We got through our 12th week of Tag ;)

It has been fun, I appreciate everyone who played along ;)

If you don't know what "Tag, you're it!" or "Tag Tuesday" is, simply put, it's a game of Tag ;)

You "Tag" your new friends and they "Tag" you as well.

(instead of leaving "following from..." comments which is what prompted me to start "Tag"
since I heard many friends say they didn't like how impersonal that sounded)

The Special "Quality" about "Tag, you're it" is that through this game,

you can post the url's to

your blog, twitter, facebook, networkedblogs, Etsy store, links to voting pages that you are in, contest/giveaway pages and anywhere else you want followers in ;)

Today is Tuesday, New blank list goes up,
The Rules to playing "Tag, you're it" are simple:
add your information to the spreadsheet "Tag" everyone else above you on the list
(Tag::add and leave Tag comment)
Check back regularly to "Tag" new friends below you (list is open all week)
"Tag" back everyone who has "Tagged" you (remember to add or follow in addition to leaving the Tag comment)

Here is the Spreadsheet

Also, if you can, help promote the word ;)

The more people know about Tag Tuesday,

the more people will Tag you ;)

A BIG thank you goes out to
Stacie at Simply Stacie for always playing and posting "Tag, you're it!"

If you posted about "Tag, you're it!", pls send me a comment and I will post your ur ;)
Great "Taggers" who posted about "Tag, you're it!" ;)
Mz. Jazie from Step up & Stand out... For Real!

and just in case you really have to have a button ;)

my daughter is showing off her skills:

(I did hear and notice that many people are not "Tagging" back, we are going by the honor system, so please "Tag & be Tagged" ;)

"""Tag means you add/follow a person and leave a Tag comment in return"""

Joey Junior Purse organizer review/giveaway ;)

Ok, so picture this:

I LOVE purses!!!

I also have 6 +1 kids, and I carry my "stuff", phone, camera, batteries, emergency crayons (yes I said it, lol), candy, headache medicine, and everything else I took away from the kids that week, I usually also carry their hand held video games...

It sounds like disaster right????

Let me tell you, it is!!!

As many moms know and women for that matter, a purse turns from a fashion statement to a carry-all-fit-all bag, lol. I should know, I do that everyday.
When I have to search in the rain for my car or house keys it gets me AND the kids upset, lol, they tell me I need to clean out my purse all the time, lol.

The thing is, that I DO clean it out!!!

With so many kids and an always on the go lifestyle, some things are a have-to in my purse.

I had the opportunity to review a great product, it's called Joey Junior Purse Organizer

My husband was laughinng at me at first, he said that I couldn't help my purse out of the misery it lives in, ;)

So I was excited to try out both sizes of their organizers...

Yes, I took before and after pictures, lol. Don't judge my purse or you'll hurt my feelings ;)
Since the pictures I took were not of great quality, I will show you pictures from Joey Junior Company...

Yes, this is what my purse looks like if you add candy, toys, crayons, and everything else I can find ;)

and this is how clean my purse looked after wards, let me tell you, the difference is amazing!!!!

I am so glad I got to try the small Joey Junior purse organizer as well, so I got to see the difference in both, and let me tell you, IT WORKS!!!
My small purse was just as "crowded" as my other ones, and this is pretty much how it ended up ;)

The small Joey purse organizer is great!!!

Let me explain a little more, I hate wallets!!!
I can't stand having to take out a wallet from my purse, have strangers look at what I have in my wallet, and run the possibility of also LOOSING the wallet, which if you ask my Hubby loosing and me go hand in hand, lol.

With the small Joey purse organizer, I was able to fit all of my children's crayons, small pencils, gift cards, money, i.d's, and business cards in the 4 pockets, as well as put my son's and my bottles of medicine inside of the gap (under the pockets)

The before and after was amazing!!!

It was so easy to go into the Military Base and not have to reach over, take out a wallet, and an i.d, I just reached into my purse and into the pocket and there it was, taa-dahhh!!! lol

The Joey Junior purse organizers have really helped take chaos out of the equation, not only can I find things faster, but I no longer have to stand in the rain while I go on a hunting expedition for my keys ;)

To share even greater news, Since I LOVE the Joey Junior purse organizers so much, they are joining my
Mother's Day Gift Guide ;)

Ok ok, so that news wasn't enough for you yet?
Joey Junior Products company have agreed to give away one Joey Junior purse organizer to a lucky reader ;)

Be on the lookout, Joey Junior product company also have some purse bling for us!!!

Mandatory Entry: 1 Entry

Visit the Joey Junior Products website and tell me which size and color/pattern of organizer you will choose if you win ;)

Optional and Additional Entries:

Add @militaryfamof8 on Twitter 1 Entry
Tweet about this giveaway with link, feel free to cut and paste:
Win your choice of Joey Junior Purse organizer!!! Perfect Mother's Day Gift, or a treat for yourself! http://bit.ly/bWnJjg @militaryfamof8
(1 entry per tweet, unlimited entries) make sure you keep @militaryfamof8 in the tweet so I can track it)
Follow This blog through Google Friend Connect 1 Entry
Subscribe to my feed reader (upper left hand corner) 1 Entry
Blog about this review and giveaway on your blog 5 entries
Become a Fan on My Facebook page 1 Entry
Enter any of my other Giveaways 1 Entry per different giveaway
Follow me on NetworkedBlogs 1 Entry
Add my button to your blog 2 Entries (on the left hand column)
Add Mother's Day Gift Guide button on your blog 3 Entries (on right hand column)
Tweet about my Mother's Day Gift Guide: (1 Entry per tweet,unlimited tweets)
Check out @militaryfamof8 Mother's Day Gift Guide!! Great reviews & Giveaways for Mother's Day! Enter!!! #mothersday http://bit.ly/9NDwU6
Add "Tag, you're it" button for Tuesday's meme 2 Entries (right hand column)
Add my giveaways to linky's 1 Entry each

Giveaway Ends 5-13-10 @ midnight Open to US & Canada residents
Leave me a separate comment with url to your posts, including twitter, for each of your entries. for example if you posted on your blog, leave me 5 separate comments, makes sense? PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR THE URL TO YOUR BLOG IN YOUR COMMENT IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT AS ANONYMOUS.

Winner will be chosen through Random.org, I will Post and E-mail the Winner. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their information or I will choose a New Winner.

San Diego Saturday ;) FREE is the word, FUN is the action!!!

Ok, so first of all, I want to apologize for this delayed post.
I tried to schedule this post to go out at midnight on saturday, and to my luck, something went wrong.
BUT, ;
) if you're anything like our Family, and LOVE to go on spur of the moment adventures, then you can still enjoy this post ;)

Linda Vista Multicultural Fair & Parade:
This is an annual celebration of Cultures and features a Grand Parade, cultural exhibits, ethnic foods, live performances, artisans, Kid's Zone, Teen zone, and lot's more!! Until 5pm
6900 block of Linda Vista Rd. between Comstock & Ulric Sts. www.lindavistafair.org

San Diego Student Shakespeare Festival:
Check out all the drama as you watch an array of Shakespeare scenes of dance, music, juggling, and puppetry performed by hundreds of local students, grades K-12. Until 4p.m Prado Area all the way down to The Ruben H Fleet Science Center. www.sandiegoshakespearesociety.org

Earth Day Festival at Alta Vista Gardens:
Vendors and displays, guest speakers, food,, and fun for kids of all ages. Until 5p.m , children's garden until 3p.m 1270 Vale Terrace DR Vista www.altavistagardens.org

Roots Fest on Adams:
This Festival along Adams Ave. features various musical genres including acoustic, folk, delta blues, bluegrass, reggae and more. Includes live performances, food, handmade arts and crafts. Today until 9pm and Sunday 10am-6pm www.adamsavenuebusiness.com

Spring Garden Festival:
Visit the "Ask the experts" section featuring tips for saving water, water-efficient gardening, landscape design, consultaions and more. Also includes entertainment, kid's activities, and exhibitors & vendors that offer conservation information, gardenning related products and arts and crafts. Until 4pm The water conservation garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon www.thegarden.org

Mission Federal ArtWalk Festival:
Explore the region's largest fine art festival featuring hundreds of visual and performing artisis who create anything from painting to photography, to sculpture to music!!! Create some fun at Kid's Walk at Amici Park where children and families find their inner artists through hands on activities and interactive performances. Sat and Sun 11am-6pm From Beech St to Fir St, in Little Italy District, Downtown San Diego www.missionfederalartwalk.org

If you had a day planned on the couch with TV, I hope that you will get up, grab your Family, and go have an adventure!!!!
Family times are crucial to a happy Family ;) Enjoy this beautiful weekend with sun, after a few days of rain, and a week's worth in the near future, fresh air does wonders for those smiles!!!!!

Sharks are talking at Sea Life Aquarium!?! You HAVE 2 check it out ;)

It's "Shark Talk!!!!!"

Have you been to Sea Life Aquarium yet? yes, no, maybe so?

Have you been there lately???

I have the PERFECT reason for your entire Family to go now, ready?

This Spring, Sea Life Aquarium is in a "Shark Frenzy!"

"Sea Life Aquarium's Shark Adventures"

Did you know that Sea Life Aquarium has the only Scalloped Hammerhead Shark in Southern California? With a second one coming to join in on the fun very soon ;)

Cool right?

This spring, SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad becomes the only Aquarium in Southern California to feature scalloped hammerhead sharks as two young sharks move in for “The Daily Dive,” part of SHARKS! a series of three new shows focusing on these mysterious creatures. The family Aquarium is also adding “The Shark and Ray Show” and “Shark Talk,” a hilarious and engaging puppet show.

In "Honor" of the new arrival to The Lost City of Atlantis, there is an awesome puppet show called...

"Shark Talk"

Starring Hammy the Hammerhead Shark, along with Hermit the Crab,
"with no relation to the green guy" lol You have to be there to understand, lol

My Family was SO happy to attend Sea Life Aquarium and see what "Shark Talk" is all about.

Let me tell you about this interactive puppet show...

Hermit the Crab, Hammy the Hammerhead and the Octopus, who's name for the life of me, I can not remember, are just hilarious.

Throughout the puppet show, they are teaching the children facts about Sharks, they have a "T.V interview" with callers from the oceans, A LOT OF HUMOR, and a great segment of the show is dedicated to the children being able to ask any and all questions they can think of.

During the "Shark Talk" puppet show, my children learned...

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark babies are called "pups"
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark can grow up to be up to 12 feet long
the odd shape of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark's head, allows it to have 360 degree vision
The most important thing they learned was that though sharks are ALWAYS portrayed as man eating and terrible animals, with Jaws being Hammy's mother -in-law:) ; most sharks will not go close to humans. As with dogs, the sense of danger to itself, can lead the shark to react in a self defending mode...

The Daily Dive is another GREAT feature of "The Shark Adventures".

Though we caught only the last bit of the show, the kids still loved the fact that there was a scuba diver talking to them through a microphone.

These unique sharks will be the stars of the new “Daily Dive Show”, an interactive underwater dive show which takes place in the Shipwreck Gallery where guests help an exploration diver uncover the secrets of the Lost City of Atlantis. The show uses a special dive mask that allows a diver in the main ocean tank to talk to guests out in the gallery for a fun, interactive and educational experience.

Another GREAT show is the "Shark and Ray Show"
This show is so cool, there is a fun guaranteed ;) The Educator makes learning fun, she has jokes for the kids, I couldn't wait to come home and tell them to Hubby ;)
During the show, the sharks and rays get very active, swimming super fast, they know that it's feeding time, and that is their behavior. All the kids are given a clipboard and a dry erase marker, and they answer questions during the show. At the end of the show, when the child turns in the clipboard, they get a "cool" shark tattoo. My children as well as myself, had a GREAT time ;)

“The Shark and Ray Show” features an adventurous educator interacting with guests and the intriguing creatures of the Ray Lagoon including Port Jackson sharks, epaulette sharks, brown banded bamboo sharks, white spotted bamboo sharks and the southern sting rays and cow nose the rays that give the Lagoon its name.

There are many feeding schedules for different Sea creatures, that the public can attend, like the shark feeding, the sea horse feeding, the Ray feedings, and if you want to feed your youngins, head upstairs to the Cafe, that is fully stocked with nutritional and delicious choices ;)

One more of my favorite parts of "Shark Talk" Day ;) was when the kids and I went to "Shark School". There is a Professor always willing to teach everyone some really cool facts.

Did you know that a Mermaid purse is a cocoon (egg sac) for a shark?

An egg case or egg capsule,also known as mermaid's purses, is a casing that surrounds the fertilized eggs sharks. of some sharks.
Ready for my SUPER COOL PICTURES?!?!?!

The Shark Professor, helped me prop the kids for a picture in a Mermaid's Purse!
Super Cool when she gave the kids their Hammerhead Sharks to hold so they could see themselves in a purse with a shark pup.

I have to tell you something very important to me and many other parents, the ENTIRE staff at Sea Life Aquarium has ALWAYS been so helpful and nice. I have not experienced attitude or frustration, even on days like our last visit, when Izeah was at 100% of hyper active bliss.

From the Cafe staff to the Shark Talk personnel, everyone had patience for my son, and I appreciate it SO much!!!

As a Parent of a Child with "Special needs", we don't always find the most patient staff members to help with information or just plain kindness and patience towards our kids.

At Sea Life Aquarium, that is the only kind of attention they have for everyone's kids: the 100% kind ;)

If you remember my previous post, about our visit to Sea Life Aquarium; Izeah found his "zone" with the water while we were there. That post brought tears to myself while writing it, and tears to many friends that read it. My son, who many times has felt that the ENTIRE world does not understand him, felt at home there, he felt at peace. Certain children with Autism have different "things" that calm and soothe them, my son learned, along with the rest of our Family, that water is his element. Sea Life is his element.

This is what he said that Day:

While he was sitting here, watching the Lost City of Atlantis, he said

'Mommy, I LOVE it here, this is MY dream come true"

I just cried, he had never "loved" a place as much as this before.

To read that days' post, click here

If you haven't been to Sea Life Aquarium yet, do your entire Family a favor, GO!!!

It is so much fun, educational, and most important in these times:

IT IS EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE!!!!!

Sea Life Aquarium has one of the lowest prices for great fun and education in town!!!
click here for ticket info

Before I leave you to check your calendars and plan your visit to Sea Life, let me show you some of our

"forever moments"

Thanks to Sea Life Aquarium...

But the BEST picture EVER?!??!

Has to be when

Hammy the Hammerhead

made a SPECIAL APPEARANCE in our picture!!!!...

Thank You Sea Life and to EVERYONE that made our day possible ;)

Trash to Treasure-Sat. crafts in April @ SeaLife Aquarium...

If you're heading out to SeaLife Aquarium,
or just now are thinking about it after I jogged your memory ;),
check out their awesome children's craft saturdays...

Trash to Treasure - Saturday Craft Activities in April

In celebration of Earth Month, SEA LIFE hosts an eco craft activity every Saturday in April. Help give new life to items that may have been headed to the landfill. One man's trash is another man's treasure!
4/10 (10am-4pm): Design your own Shadow Puppet Stage from cardboard boxes
4/14 (10am-4pm): Bring a jellyfish to life from an egg carton
4/24 (10am-4pm): Shark Puppets spring into action from plastic bags
Trash To Treasure craft activity included with admission to SEA LIFE Aquarium.

In our visits to SeaLife, there has NEVER been a single thing we didn't love ;)

Last minute freebies for Earth Day

sorr it's so late, with this rain, I am running on 0 motivation, lol

Free Tote from Babies R Us printable coupon,not only grab a free bag you'll also get 25% off what you put in it! http://bit.ly/90bMkj

Free Seeds: Get a "free flowers for Earth Day" bookmark, including seeded paper embedded with a handful of annual and perennial wildflowers. Directions are included to plant the paper, all courtesy of HelioPower. Request your bookmark by calling 87-SOLAR-888, or send in your address by visiting the link above.

Free Reusable Bag From Kellogg's: Get a free tote bag with a Kellogg's character on it when you purchase two Kellogg's cereals and send in the order form with proof of purchase—and pay $1.75 for shipping.

Free Hat From Disney: Head to a Disney Store with six empty bottles or cans and you'll take home a kids' sized cap made of 100 percent recycled fabric. This deal is good on Earth Day only!

Tag, you're it!!! (new list starts on Tuesday)

Guess what?! We got through our 11th week of Tag ;)

It has been fun, I appreciate everyone who played along ;)

If you don't know what "Tag, you're it!" or "Tag Tuesday" is, simply put, it's a game of Tag ;)

You "Tag" your new friends and they "Tag" you as well.

(instead of leaving "following from..." comments which is what prompted me to start "Tag"
since I heard many friends say they didn't like how impersonal that sounded)

The Special "Quality" about "Tag, you're it" is that through this game,

you can post the url's to

your blog, twitter, facebook, networkedblogs, Etsy store, links to voting pages that you are in, contest/giveaway pages and anywhere else you want followers in ;)

Today is Tuesday, New blank list goes up,
The Rules to playing "Tag, you're it" are simple:
add your information to the spreadsheet "Tag" everyone else above you on the list
(Tag::add and leave Tag comment)
Check back regularly to "Tag" new friends below you (list is open all week)
"Tag" back everyone who has "Tagged" you (remember to add or follow in addition to leaving the Tag comment)
One thing I do have to bring up, PLEASE be kind and do not erase or change peoples information.

Here is the Spreadsheet

Also, if you can, help promote the word ;)

The more people know about Tag Tuesday,

the more people will Tag you ;)

A BIG thank you goes out to
Stacie at Simply Stacie for always playing and posting "Tag, you're it!"

If you posted about "Tag, you're it!", pls send me a comment and I will post your ur ;)
Great "Taggers" who posted about "Tag, you're it!" ;)
Ms. V from Vixen's Den
Mz. Jazie from Step up & Stand out... For Real!

and just in case you really have to have a button ;)

my daughter is showing off her skills:

(I did hear and notice that many people are not "Tagging" back, we are going by the honor system, so please "Tag & be Tagged" ;))
"""Tag means you add/follow a person and leave a Tag comment in return"""

Winner of $25 GC & Sweet Treats pack from Betty Crocker is.....

Random.org said that from 1-113 the lucky number was......
#74

Mari said...: tweet http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/11798812642 runningmatey at hotmail dot com; April 7, 2010 6:42 PM; Congratulations and Thank you to everyone that entered.; I have GREAT reviews & giveaways coming this week, especially for my Mother's Day Gifts, please continue to check back, here are some of the

$25 GC from American Express
a Family night game & food pack
Women's purse organizers (cool)
purse BLING!
personalized Tshirt
and more....

If you haven't seen the giveaway I have right now, it's for a chance to win your own personalized Adult or Children's Tshirt from Oopsy ;)
here is the link http://bit.ly/bIkVvr

Have a GREAT Sunday my friends ;)

New info for EarthFair 2010....

It's going to be awesome!!

I just got these extra details for you ;) Hope to see all of you there ;)

And here's a lot more info! and we still need VOLUNTEERS mainly in the afternoon!

_________________________________________________________________________

Free Stuff - Kids Activities - Animals - at EarthFair 2010 - Sunday, April 18 from 10am - 5pm

_________________________________________________________________________

Make sure you SEE what you want at the EarthFair! PLAN in advance by searching by issues using the online Exhibitor Finder at

http://www.earthdayweb.org/EF/EF_Exh_Info.html

VOLUNTEER AT:

http://www.earthdayweb.org/EF/EF_Vol.html

DO NOT DRIVE TO THE EARTHFAIR:

USE our free, secure bike parking...take transit...DO your part!

If you must drive, after 10AM use our off-site parking and free shuttle services

from City College and after NOON, use the County Administration Building Lot.

Details: http://www.earthdayweb.org/EF/EarthFairTransportation.html

_________________________________________________________________________

FREEBIES at the 20th anniversary EarthFair in Balboa Park - Sunday, April 18 from 10am - 5pm

_________________________________________________________________________

Plaza de Panama

SPIN the Barona Prize wheel

Sample CHOBANI Yogurt

Enter a free raffle for a mobile personal TV at the Qualcomm booth

Enter the CONSERVATION HERO contest being held by Wildcoast at 1pm

Food Area at Park & President's

The Living Mix Tour is offering samples of:

- Knudsen Organic Juice

- Back to Nature granola and crackers

- Fruit2Day juice drink

- Mori-Nu Tofu

- Turtle Mountain ice cream

- Hero gummy vitamins

GanoCafe will be sampling it's lower-acid and lower-caffeine coffee drink

El Prado West

The GoodOnYa Bar will be giving out samples

Pan American Plaza

Global Reduction Opportunity Education is having a raffle for its recycling bins

FAGE (pronounced "fa-yeh) will be sampling its Greek Yogurt

Wal-mart will be giving away reusable shopping bags

The Mall

Lions, Tigers & Bears is holding a raffle for 8 amazing prizes including a behind-the-scenes visit to their wild cat rescue facility

Federal Building lawn

LongLivePlanetEarth.org is hosting a drawing for an Earth-friendly art piece

_________________________________________________________________________

For Kids!

_________________________________________________________________________

Kids Area

Becky Bones is giving out one grant winner PER HOUR

CLIF bars will be giving free samples of Z Bars and Twisted Fruit

Kids Activities in the Kids Area (near the Puppet Theatre)

Can you sort recyclables? Join the Recyling Race with the Innovations Academy Charter School in the Kids Area

Create necklaces and bracelets using recycled magazines with the Greater San Diego Academy in the Kids Area

Center for Integral Education will be hosting a Recycling Art Project

Make your personal Earth Day promise for what you'll do the rest of the year: at the Humanitree tables in the Kids Area and Plaza de Panama

La Jolla Country Day School is presenting a "Thought Wall" along with an activity

Nature of Art will have drawing and painting with non-toxic art supplies and recycled crayons

Play SpongeBob Recycling Basketball with the San Diego County Office of Education

Play interactively with Tandem Teaching in the Kids Area

Kids Activities (in other areas)

Clean UP a table-top oil spill with Cuyamaca College on El Prado West

Join I Love a Clean San Diego and play "Operation Clean-Up" based on the classic game "Operation" on El Prado East

Take home a drought tolerant planting from the Water Conservation Garden in the UN Area

Dance in the cob (adobe) at the RainThanks & Greywater exhibit in the Pan American Plaza

Play "So Many Mouths" with Project Wildlife in the UN Area

Make your own admission coupon to the Chula Vista Nature Center across from the Organ Pavilion

Make your own "Earth Day Button" with the San Diego Oceans Foundation (Federal Building Lawn)

Christians for EarthCare is making "Get Well Earth" cards on the Federal Building Lawn Area

_________________________________________________________________________

Animals!

_________________________________________________________________________

Live reptiles and a tarantula at County of San Diego, Department of Parks in The Mall Area

Zoofari will have wild animals in El Prado East (a baby 1 foot alligator, a hedgehog, a kinkajou, opossum, porcupine and snake)

Wee Companions will have guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and mice in the UN Area

Have your photo taken with Wilma the 100-pound python in the Kids Area

University of San Diego will have a marine touch tank in the Plaza de Panama

SEACAMP San Diego and Garfield High School will have a marine touch tank in the Pan American Plaza

Learn about saving whales and see the 9-foot whale suit with Greenpeace in Area across from the Organ Pavilion

San Diego Beekeeping Society will have an observation hive to see bees in their living quarters in El Prado East

Pro Peninsula is involved with saving 5 species of endangered sea turtles in El Prado East

RBHS Cares educates and raises funds to save the endangered spider monkey in Mexico in El Prado West

Guardian Angels Animal Rescue San Diego will have adoptable cats in the UN Area

Project Wildlife will have rescued wild animals in the UN Area

Scripps Ranch High School S.A.F.E. Animals Club raises awareness about endangered species and raises funds for World Wildlife Fund and the San Diego Zoo. Their goal this year is to raise funds for the Galapagos Island Tortoise Exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. (Kids Area)

San Diego Animal Rescue will have dogs, cats, kittens and puppies available for adoption in El Prado West

San Diego Humane Society will have adoptable animals in the UN Area

Even Chance Pit Bull Rescue will have adoptable dogs in the UN Area

Just a Dog Pit Bull Rescue will have adoptable dogs in the UN Area

Earth Day Celebrations!!!!!! Join my Family in a parade ;)

Did you know that Earth Day is April 22, 2010?

Well I am SUPER excited to announce my latest adventure!!!

In Honor of Earth Day,

on Sunday April 18, 2020 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m at The Beautiful Balboa Park,

We will be Celebrating EarthFair 2010!!!

Our annual EarthFair in Balboa Park is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world. EarthFair 2010 will be our 20th anniversary – the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day! Each year, the EarthFair draws around 70,000 visitors. Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair features more than 350 exhibitors, special theme areas, a Food Pavilion, a special Kids’ Activity Area, three entertainment venues, the Children’s Earth Parade, the eARTh Gallery art show, and the Cleaner Car Concourse.

Honestly, I am so excited, see, I LOVE attending events with my Family, but when there is a lesson to be learned from the event, or it's for a great cause, I am just all for it. When I first heard about EarthFair 2010, I thought that it would be fun to go. As I went to their site, and read the entire site, I became a kid!!!

There will be so many activities for people of all ages, and the most exciting one of all is....

An Earth Day Parade!!!!!!!!!!! ok ok, I will give you the details in a little bit, let me first tell you of all the FUN things that will be happening on Sunday!!

A Boatload of Exhibitors!!!

Our exhibitors form the heart of EarthFair. They represent every type of environmental organization, governmental program and commercial enterprise with goods, services and causes that address our environment and quality of life. Our exhibitor fees are graduated to allow everyone to participate, from the smallest organization to the largest corporation.It's impossible to list everything you'll find at EarthFair: traditional conservation organizations, wildlife preservation groups, products made from natural and organically grown crops, organic gardening information, alternative energy vehicles, ecotourism opportunities, many alternative and traditional health care products and services, pet adoption services, clean air and clean water products, rainforest preservation groups ... the list goes on and on

Events for the Kid in you ;)

In our Childrens’ Activity Area you’ll find crafts, games, face painting, storytelling, and a hands-on activities for children of all ages. Activities are intended to educate, entertain and inspire youth, in the spirit of Earth Day. This year, participants will learn to make paper, find out about recycling, make gift cards from recycled materials, and learn how to visit wild areas without disturbing the environment. Our Children’s Stage features youth-oriented performances throughout the day.

Did someone ask about Entertainment?!?!?!

EarthFair will feature three stages. We’ve already mentioned the Children’s Stage, featuring music, song and storytelling aimed at the younger set. The Moon Stage (at Park and Presidents Way) will feature a variety of contemporary music by local artists. The Folk Music Stage (by the U.N. building), hosted by the San Diego Folk Music Heritage Society, will feature some of our city’s finest folk music artists.

For the Car and Earth Conscious ;)

The Cleaner Car Concourse features vehicles of all descriptions that all run on alternative fuels (hybrids included). This isn't just “the future”: these are vehicles being used on the road today. The vehicles will be on display in the Pan American Plaza. Do you have a vehicle that belongs in the show? Click here for more information, and to register on-line.

For the Homes that are bugging you for Earth Friendly friendships ;) eHomes

Our eHome exhibit area showcases products and technologies that can make your home more environmentally sustainable. If you're building a new structure, or adding to an existing home, alternative home-building technologies, such as straw bale and steel-frame construction, will be of interest. Find out about energy- and resource-saving products and materials, like energy-efficient appliances and low-E windows. A wide variety of solar electric systems – available now, to help you get off the grid – will be shown.

Awesome eARTh Exhibitions

The eARTh Gallery features works by artists using recycled materials or showing depictions of "Endangered Spaces" in San Diego County. The artwork will be presented next to the Children's Area in the Pan American Plaza (close to the Auto Museum). Are you an artist with earth-friendly art you'd like to display? Click here for more information about exhibiting in the eARTh Gallery.

Did you think I forgot about the Food?!?!?!

Tired of the nitrate-filled hot dogs and sugar-loaded sodas you usually get at large public events? Then step right up to our Food Pavilion for a change of pace. You'll find out-of-the-ordinary vegetarian fare that will make you wish it was available in the park all year long.

For the shopper in you ;)

You'll see lots of stuff to buy at EarthFair. As in previous years, non-profit organizations are free to sell goods and services to support their operations. In fact, for many of the smaller non-profits, EarthFair can be a significant source of funding for their activities. So, if you want to get some holiday gifts real early, you can make sure your money will be going to a cause you want to support. We will also allow for-profit organizations to sell environmentally-beneficial goods and services.

OK OK OK, I have held the "FUNNEST" part long enough!!!!!
There is an Earth Day Parade that starts the celebrations!!!
What? that wasn't exciting news? Ok, I'll keep going ;)
It's an AWESOME parade!

A parade to celebrate the variety of life on earth and demonstrate a commitment to a clean, healthy environment. The Parade is a kick-off for EarthFair 2010, the world's largest free environmental fair and Earth Day celebration.

You want info on the Parade?

Line up 9:30 am – 10:15 am Parade begins at 10:30 am Total marching time: about 30 minutes In Balboa Park, the parade proceeds from the Natural History Museum, west to the Art Museum, south past the Organ Pavilion, ending at the Children's Area between the Puppet Theater and the Auto Museum in Pan American Plaza (parade follows the red line of this exhibitor map).

The groups participating in the Parade have to have a minimum of 6 people. I know that our Family alone is a group, lol, but I want to make it BIGGER ;)

The theme for this year's parade is: "DO YOUR PART." We are asking people to show how their individual action can express the spirit of Earth Day and promote a clean, healthy, prosperous environment. The following are ideas you may want to consider as a focus for your own parade team: Endangered Animals, Ocean Life, Indigenous Traditions, Wilderness, Habitat Restoration, Trees/ReForestation, Rainforests, People, Desert Life, Wetlands, Peace, BioDiversity, "Mother Nature", Recycle/Reduce Waste, Taking care of Earth and Ourselves

A Parade for Earth Day, a Theme Parade at that!!
I had Hubby sit and think with me about costumes to make for the kids ;)
Did I tell you I am excited?
Here is a link of past parade pictures, so you can see how CUTE the Kid's look during the Parade ;)

As I said above our Family is big enough to count as a group, but I want a BIGGER group ;)
If you would like to join us for the Parade, please let me know, I promise that it will be LOT'S OF FUN!!!
Hubby and I will help you create a costume for your child if you need help ;)
After the Parade we can enjoy a FULL FREE day in celebration of Earth Day ;)

Even if you don't want to be a part of our parade :( lol, you can still come on out and enjoy some California sun (hopefully) ;) and learn more about helping Mother Earth ;)

I just received this extra information that I thought you would really enjoy ;)