Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Still The Greatest Show on Earth After 143 Years

Family Entertainment

I have been compensated for this post

I feel like a kid again because Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey 143rd Annual Circus just came to town!  In fact, as a mom blogger I was invited for press night last evening to bring my family to see the opening performance. Major media celebrities were also in abundance at this Los Angeles event in the shadow of the Hollywood sign: Mario and Courtney Lopez, Gena Lee Nolin, Taylor Armstrong and Brandi Glanville to name a few.
  

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Image from Ringling Bros.

You can see it too. Shows are running through August 4 with the circus now on tour throughout Southern California from Staples Center Los Angeles to Citizens Bank Arena Ontario to Honda Center Anaheim.

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My son who loves trapeze checks program, MommyBlogExpert.com

This year's theme is Built to Amaze. The idea is carried throughout the live extravaganza with just about everything that comes to mind when you think of construction work. Black and white striped barricades, orange pilon cones and flashing warning lights, front loader trucks, detour signs, silly painters flinging paint everywhere -- you name it, if it has to do with building it was probably in this show. 

One thing I was really impressed by -- since I come from a musical family -- is that there live music accompanies all the excitement thanks to the talents of the Ringling Bros. Band that plays the whole show, enhancing the experience. You want to know something else amazing? Both producers of this pull-out-all-the-stops circus performance are women: the brilliant and creative sister team Nicole Feld and Alana Feld and Ringling Bros. has been in their family for multiple generations.

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Me enjoying the show last night, MommyBlogExpert.com

You're going to smile too

When you see last nite's opener on

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During the Circus All-Access Preshow on the arena floor that began an hour before the performance there was so much fun stuff going on. It was literally a three-ring circus before the circus show!

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MommyBlogExpert.com

There was the chance for kids to dress up in real circus costumes, an elephant that really paints like in the movie My Lucky Elephant, and the opportunity to get up close and meet the show's talented performers, among many more activities than anyone can do in just 60 minutes.

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MommyBlogExpert.com

The two hour show included a brief intermission and featured non-stop entertainment and fun. From the brave aerial artists on the flying trapeze and the daring highrise tightrope double decker walk, to a bouncy trampoline troupe and wacky basketball players on unicycles, to choreographed dancing horses, roaring tigers, high energy poodle doing dog tricks, and elephants prancing around the ring trunk to tail style, to clowns having a faux paint fight, and a man on the highest stilts ever, Ringling knows how to engage an audience like few others.

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MommyBlogExpert.com

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MommyBlogExpert.com

Words just don't do this show justice. You really have to see it with your own eyes to truly appreciate all that is here. So enjoy all the photos and video in this post that I shot last night because this is still -- after close to 150 years -- the Greatest Show on Earth for Kids of All Ages! 

Better yet, if you are lucky enough to be in Southern California hurry and grab tickets for you and your kids so you can experience it yourself. Check show dates for your local area and get ticket information here.

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MommyBlogExpert.com

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post, however opinions are my own. I received Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey tickets to take my own family to this circus in exchange for covering the event and hosting a circus ticket giveaway. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Mobile Education Game Sponsored Blogger Op, Selected Mom Bloggers Will Earn $75/Post

Blog Opportunity
Deadline to apply is 7/19/13

I have been compensated for this post

As faithful readers know I'm a mom blogger with four kids who is the editor and primary content producer for MommyBlogExpert. I also work as a consultant advising PR agencies and brands on social media campaigns targeting women, moms and families. Today I want to tell you about a great new campaign I am assisting on right now that is seeking to compensate selected bloggers that write about early childhood and/or education topics.

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The client company has created a kid's mobile app to help preschool age children have fun while learning math concepts like counting, identifying colors, sizing shapes and objects. This compensated blog campaign will include a series of posts by each blogger that is selected for the program.

The Ask
You are at an advantage if you have one or more preschool age children who might be asked to test the product later. But even if you don't, as long as you're interested in the subject -- from either a teacher or parent perspective -- you are encouraged to apply. Please only submit interest for this if you are able to publish post #1 within a week of being selected about a contest incorporating additional material about the product that would be provided. As of now we are planning to provide assets for a second post to qualified bloggers sometime around August 10.

The Get
Bloggers selected to work with us will be notified shortly. The campaign will include a contest with substantial prizes for participating bloggers' readers. In addition, those chosen will be compensated $75 for each post assigned that is completed on time.

Think this a right fit for you? We hope so!

Deadline for Consideration

Friday, July 19

APPLY HERE

FTC Disclosure: I am a Mom Ambassador for this brand and have been compensated for this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Tracys Closet - Unique Consumer Shopping Experience to Buy & Sell Fashion

Fashion

I received credit to Tracy's Closet for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. 

Just one reason I love being a woman blogger -- I get compensated to shop. In fact, for this post I received the opportunity to go on a shopping spree to try out a new online fashion marketplace concept called Tracy's Closet.

This isn't just another new Internet seller peddling independent brands and designers you'll recognize like Coach, Banana Republic, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture and others. 

It's actually a community where you can not only buy women's and kids fashion, shoes and accessories from others. You can also earn credits for purchases you make by selling items from your own closet as well as from your son's and daughter's outgrown or unwanted wardrobes. Each product is categorized as New with Tag, Worn Once, Gently Used, Vintage or Handmade.

TracysCloset.com

What makes this buy and sell exchange upstart so unique is that it operates on a points system, enabling you to shop without using money -- unless you use their option to purchase points with a credit card. Each item’s points "price" is calculated by Tracy's Closet taking into account the original retail cost and present condition. Then, along with a photo and short description provided by the seller, it's listed for sale in exchange for a certain number of points needed to buy it.

Shopping this site with its clean and crisp style is easy and the look and layout of the site reminds me of Pinterest. Once you've signed in to begin your shopping adventure, just click on either the Women or Kids tab on the home page. Then, you can search for new and previously loved clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry and other accessories in a number of ways by type, brand, condition, color or points required to buy (for example all items priced at under 1000 points). 

Merchandise is sold and new stock added all the time, so you never know what you'll find-- it's like shopping in a vintage clothing shop or a trendy and eclectic boutique. 

Today while browsing I was enchanted by this beautiful piece of jewelry. Way outside my price range, but still fun to discover.

Screen Shot of Actual Item for Sale at Tracy's Closet

Once you click on an item you like, you'll get see some basic information about it and from there you can push the buy button to purchase it with your points. Free shipping is included on everything. Unfortunately you can't search by size right now, but hopefully as the community of sellers and buyers grows, they'll offer that option to streamline your shop experience in the future.

There's a wide range of styles for an array of tastes and occasions. Look at the casual cute red new Esprit flip flops I snagged yesterday! 

Screen Shot of Footware I Bought on Tracy's Closet

Marketing your own fashion pieces is also a breeze. First you use your smartphone to take a clear digital picture of each item you want to sell from your own closet. Then you'll upload image(s) to the site along with providing some basic information about it/them. Once Tracy's Closet has determined the point value of what you want to sell, they'll immediately provide you with a partial credit of the total points you'll earn once the item sells. The beauty is that you are able to shop and purchase items using those initial points earned, while you're waiting for someone to buy your stuff.

What a great way to multi-task to clean out and restock your closet simultaneously!

Join Tracy's Closet Now
I anticipate that this community for fashionistas will get better as it grows and more consumers jump in on the fun. As an incentive, right now Tracy's Closet will give you 500 points instantly to use on the site just for signing up -- membership is free. They also want you to tell your friends and for each referral that signs up, they will deposit 100 additional points into your store account for you to apply to purchases you make.

So let's go shopping! In additioning to becoming a member, you can keep up on all the latest Tracy's Closet news by following them on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: I was compensated for this sponsored post made possible by Mom SparkMedia. Thoughts are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.