Orange Juice is the Perfect Way to Start Your Family's Day & Win a Florida Trip Tropicana Sweepstakes

Good Food

Sweepstakes details below

Tropicana is the original 100% pure Florida orange juice that I grew up with as a Baby Boomer.  Today as a mom myself, I buy Tropicana Juice for my own kids. Not only is it nostalgic for me, it's as good now as it was back in the 1960s when I was growing up and today comes in a lot more varieties with and without pulp and my family's own favorite: Orange Tangerine blend.

Image provided by Tropicana

Speaking of Florida, I've been there just a few times. The most memorable visit by far was when my four children and I traveled to the national Triplet Connection Convention in Orlando in 2003.  It was my second year serving as volunteer media director for this annual non-profit's gathering of families raising triplets, quads and higher order multiples as well as my inaugural cross-country trip by plane traveling alone with four young kids. Side note: the annual triplet convention returns to Orlando this summer from July 6-8, 2012.

My kids & I all in our PJs for the red eye flight to Florida

What a sight we were -- mommy, 6 year-old triplets and big brother just one year older -- all wearing backpacks while dragging rolling suitcases through airports as we flew from L.A. to Miami where we changed planes before finally arriving in Orlando and renting a car for the duration of our visit.  My hubbie had to work so he flew in for the weekend to join us for a few days in the middle of our trip. 

The Triplet Convention involved parenting workshops and simultaneous entertainment for the kids and other events that gave our family the chance to socialize with others just like us from all over the U.S. You to have been there to feel what an awe inspiring experience this was being in same ballroom with more than 100 other sets of triplets and quads.

Convention is the only place in the world where you'll see a Triplet Parade!

Before and after the multiples convention we did some sightseeing around Orlando. Since we live in Southern California and have been to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Sea World dozens of times we avoided all those Orlando sister theme parks.

Yay, we're finally here!

Instead I decided to take my kids to experience the local much less commercial only-in-Florida places like Gatorland in Orlando a kitschy and small family friendly place where we spent the day watching very brave men wrestle real alligators among other shows. 

My kids playing around at Gatorland in Orlando

Before leaving to return home several days ahead of us Daddy joined us for a thrilling visit to the Kennedy Space Center -- formerly called Cape Canaveral -- which was just a 45 minute drive away. I highly recommend these fun and educational stops to families who want to visit Florida and avoid the massive crowds.

The Marriott Grande Lakes room service surprised our kids with milk & cookies

Here's another idea for a Florida family adventure. Wouldn't it be fun for you and your kids to receive an exclusive behind the scenes tour of a Tropicana orange grove? Well if you win this contest that dream could become a reality.

Image provided by Tropicana

How to Enter the 
Tropicana Sweepstakes

Here's your chance to win one of 100 Florida prizes. The grand prize is a trip for you and three friends or family members to visit a real Florida orange grove where you'll learn all about the history of the orange growing industry in Florida and Tropicana's beginnings in the 1960s. This prize also includes airfare and three hotel nights for the four of you. If you don't win that dream trip you could also win big. That's because Tropicana is also awarding each of 99 other lucky winners a one year's supply of their orange juice.

Image provided by Tropicana

For details, official rules and how to win this great giveaway, first Like Tropicana on Facebook, then visit the Tropicana FB sweeps tab to enter.  Each 59 oz container of Tropicana Pure Premium is made from 16 fresh-picked Florida oranges. Learn more about the Tropicana story by visiting Tropicana.com

FTC Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Tropicana blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here. MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other compensation associated with 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.
 

Happy Easter April 8

Holiday Wishes

Happy Easter to all MBE Readers
Celebrating on Sunday!

Happy Passover April 6-14

Holiday Wishes

Happy Pesach to MBE Readers Celebrating 

Passover Over the Next 8 Days

National Walk To Work Day is Today Join the Movement & You Could Win Dr Weil Shoes

Fitness

Details to win prizes below

It's National Walk to Work Day so there's no better time than now to tell you about an exciting walking fitness initiative that I'm taking part in and you can too. 

Celebrating Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear Ambassador 28-Day Walkabout

From Los Angeles where I live to New York from South Dakota to Austin, Texas I am among fifty @WeilBeing Walkabout Ambassadors participating in a 28-day commitment to walk at least 30 minutes daily. I've been walking for two weeks already in my new Rhythm Walking Shoes from Weil Integrative Footwear and have been loving every step!

Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., Image from SpontaneousHappiness.com

These shoes were designed by Harvard-trained Dr. Andrew Weil, a nationally-regarded M.D. who founded and leads the prestigious Andrew Weil Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson which just happens to be the university where I received my undergraduate degree. 

As an Arizona Alumnus, I'll interject our school's cheer at this point. Bear Down Arizona, Bear Down Red and Blue, Go, Go Wildcats Go, Arizona Bear Down!

University of Arizona campus w/ Bear Down Gym on Left, Arizona.edu

As I was saying... These shoes are engineered with a built-in orthotic by Orthaheel and are stylish and comfortable for pounding the pavement without looking like orthopedic old lady shoes. Not only does Dr Weil's footwear for walking feature technology that will help restore your natural footprint, they are also free of animal products and are eco-friendly constructed of charcoal and bamboo. 

They're lightweight, too, but don't let that fool you. These doggies support the arches in your feet, putting a spring in your step and can make pain-free walking a reality even for those who don't walk simply because it hurts.

Rhythm Walking Shoes I Received from Dr Weil Integrative Footwear

Walk & WIN Prizes

You can get involved too in walking more. Not only that, you  have the chance to win some cool prizes. Just  like the national Dr. Weil Walkabout Campaign on Facebook and sign up virtually to make your own 28-day commitment to walking daily for at least a half hour.

The Rhythm Walking Shoe for women and men is priced at $119.95 and is available direct from Dr Weil Integrative Footwear at WeilBeing.com

FTC Disclosure: I was chosen as a Brand Ambassador for the 28-Day Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear Walkabout campaign. As a member of the brand influencer team and to facilitate my truthful review of the product I received a pair of Rhythm Walking Shoes and assorted branded swag. 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. 

Passover Easy Jewish Creative DIY Project Ideas

Crafts

Passover starts at sundown tomorrow night, this year running from April 6 - 14. For the past few days many Jewish children have been home from school. Of course they're excited that Passover is coming but they're probably a little stir crazy by now, too.

I made this Moses Costume for my son for his Pre-1 School Play...

 

The wonderful resources in this post -- all of which are free -- are meant both to keep the kids busy and to save your sanity so you can finish your Pesach spring cleaning and prepare your festive meal for the Seder.  There are some fun, very creative and easy projects here, something for everyone. 

Depending on the age and skill level of your child, he or she may be able to do some or all of these alone while others will require adult supervision. Of course, by all means, if you have time to take a break from your pre-holiday cleaning marathon you won't regret enjoying making a craft or two with your child while bonding.

Free Passover Download Printables

Image from Aish.com

Passover Symbols Coloring Page from Crayola

Paper Egyptian Pyramid Craft from DLTK

Giant Assortment of Ancient Egypt Coloring Pages from ColorWS

Beautiful Hagaddah Kids Coloring Pages from Aish

Find the Chometz and Find the Afikomen Mazes from Aish

Free Passover Arts & Craft Projects

Image from Kaboose.com

Cardboard Moses Craft from Kaboose

Decorative Seder Plate With Model Magic Clay from Crayola

  

Paper Bag Frog Puppet from DLTK 

Image from DLTK-Kids.com

Fanciful Ten Plagues Placards from Creative Jewish Mom

You might also like this MBE Passover Post
Martha Stewart's Matzah House Craft and other ideas for Passover

Passover holiday crafts that your child makes are not only fun and educational projects that create happy childhood memories, they also become heirlooms for the future.

What kinds of crafts did you make as a child and what projects were your favorites? Have you shared any of your childhood crafts will your own child? Also, feel free to leave links to other Passover projects you like as a comment below. 

Happy Passover 

to those Celebrating

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with 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.