Taking Kids to SeaWorld - Controversy of Animal Parks & Performing Whales on CNN

Nature

The documentary Blackfish premieres tonight on CNN at 9 pm ET. This important film is by director Gabriella Cowperthwaite, a mom who used to take her own kids to SeaWorld. It continues the conversation and debate among parents about taking our children to see killer whales perform, considering all the current controversy surrounding this world-famous marine water park in the wake of the most recent tragic death of orca trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.

My triplets at Shamu Show when they were babies, MommyBlogExpert.com

I was interviewed by CNN family correspondent and mom Kelly Wallace for the CNN.com story published today, along with several other parents, about all the issues this stirs up. In addition to my comments, you'll also see family photos of my kids at Seaworld that are featured in this informative piece that every mom and dad should read.

CNN.com Cover Page Today 

Check out today's CNN story. 

Share Your Thoughts
Please comment below on whether or not you think the whale show should go on and why. As a parent have you discussed these issues with your kids before? If you watch Blackfish as a family, how did your kids react?

My oldest son on one of many Sea World visits, MommyBlogExpert.com

FTC Disclosure: I was interviewed by CNN.com for today's story on the SeaWorld performing whale controversy and I plan to watch Blackfish tonight. My family has been to SeaWorld more than 20 times as paying guests. I did not receive any compensation or payment for this post and opinions 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.

60% Discount Designer Brands Free Shipping Fashion Deals for Women who Love to Shop

Shopping

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Have you heard about the new site My Habit, a private fashion sale site founded by Amazon.com?

Image provided by MyHabit

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Designer Fashion, Shoes & Accessories 

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post, however words 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.

Celebrating Father Daughter Relationships Family Dynamic Creates Special Life Moments

Family

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Nothing evokes the sense of family more than special lifetime moments shared across young and old generations. For me, the father-daughter relationship immediately comes to mind. My Daddy was always there for me when I was growing up and I will always treasure the things we did together, from working in our family vegetable patch to taking cross-country road trips to going fishing and much more.

My dad w/ me in green suit & my siblings, 1960s

Now I have two daughters of my own. As a mother, it gives me great joy to see how my hubbie has bonded with our girls, spending quality time with them that is creating memories they'll treasure more and more as they grow older.

It's in that vein I'd like to share a beautiful and moving video produced by New York Life that celebrates the universal ideal of a loving father-daughter relationship. In this particular clip it's all about how dad is sharing his love of baseball, passing on the love of the game to his daughter, generation to generation.

Hopefully my story makes you smile and think about the special dad(s) in your own life as much as it reminded me of the different generations of fathers in my family.

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FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. However, opinions and thoughts here 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.

Giveaway Smurfs Legend of Smurfy Hollow DVD Kids Movie Sony New Release, Ends 10/28

Movies

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Just in time for Halloween comes the newest kids DVD release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow.

Mom Blogger Event Celebrates DVD Launch, Image from Sony Pictures

Here's the official trailer of this brand new 2013 fall seasonal Smurfs adventure that kids will enjoy especially at this time of year.

The Smurfs Legend of Smurfy Hollow with a run time of 22 minutes carries a retail price of $6.99 and is now widely available instore and online. Courtesy of The Smurfs, you can also download some fun free Halloween kids activity sheets. 

Enter to Win the DVD to Watch at Home
To help you celebrate Halloween with your kids, I'm excited to be hosting a giveaway right here on MommyBlogExpert of this fun new DVD. Read on and enter daily till the contest ends to increase your chances of winning! 

The SMURFS

The Legend of Smurfy Hollow 

DVD GIVEAWAY

Ends 10/28/13

Image provided by Sony

This Sony Home Entertainment - MommyBlogExpert DVD Giveaway ends October 28, 2013 at 12 am PT. Contest open to legal residents of the U.S. only. ONE (1) winner will receive the new The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow DVD. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize.

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Good Luck!!!

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. I received the DVD featured to facilitate this post and Sony Pictures is providing the prize and shipping for the giveaway. However no payment was received and opinions here 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.

Verizon Belkin WeMo Switch Review - Mobile Control of Household Appliances On the Go

Technology

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As a busy lifestyle blogger and mom of four teenagers, including 16 year-old triplets, family life can be pretty erratic. There is more than one not-me living here that is forever forgetting to turn off lights and other electronics when dashing out of the house. So, when I discover a tool that can help put some sanity back into this crazy life full of surprises and manage my household more efficiently, I naturally want to share it with readers. Such is the case with the Belkin WeMo Switch available from Verizon Wireless that I had the opportunity to test and review for Mommy Blog Expert.

Belkin WeMo Switch, MommyBlogExpert.com

Remember those old-fashioned light timers that your dad or grandpa would set to turn off and on lights on a schedule while away on a vacation? The WeMo Switch takes that same concept of convenience plus it brings controling lights and virtually all other electrical household small appliances into the 21st century -- remotely using a smartphone or tablet.

WeMo Switch fits in the palm of my hand, MommyBlogExpert.com

Using this gadget which has a wi-fi receiver that works with your home wifi network, it is possible to control home appliances using your mobile device anywhere you might be. There are so many ways you can use this: to turn on lights before you or your kids get home, switch off that iron or coffee maker that you accidentally left on when you ran out of the house this morning for carpool duty, and much more.

This clip provides an overview of how it works... 

 

This is so simple and fast to set up and use, it is hard to believe it does so much. As long as there is wifi access and the device is installed near enough to pick up a strong signal in your home, it should work. The WeMo Switch is truly a plugin -- requiring absolutely no technical expertise, all you do is plug it into a wall outlet and then plug in what ever home appliance you would like to operate remotely when you are away.

WeMo Switch plugged into wall outlet, MommyBlogExpert.com

The next step is to download the free WeMo app to your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Once it's loaded on your smartphone or tablet, just go into the app and finishing pairing it with the appliance that you have connected to the switch. You can then turn off and on electronics whenever you want from your smart device and even set up a schedule in advance, for example, to turn off and on a lamp on a set schedule while you're on vacation. The great thing is that you can connect as many mobile devices to control the on/off function as you want, so every member of the family can have the option to turn off and on the appliance where the WeMo Switch has been plugged in.

We Mo Switch Quick Install Guide, MommyBlogExpert.com

Just think once this is set up as long as you can pick up either a 3G, 4G or wi-fi signal on your smart mobile device, you can turn off that coffee maker you left on by mistake while you're in the cab on the way to the airport to catch your flight to Europe.

This device can be moved from outlet to outlet to be used with different appliances, but you will need to go back into the app and reset it up if you move it to plug into a different outlet. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you want to have control over two or more household electrical gadgets you'll need a WeMo switch for each separate appliance.

Verizon Pavilion at Intl CES, MommyBlogExpert.com

The WeMo Switch sells for $49.99 and is available from Verizon Wireless online and in-store. For additional information about WeMo Switch as well as other products in this family including the WeMo Light Switch and WeMo Motion, visit Belkin.com

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger brand ambassador and that I received the product featured to facilitate this test and review 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.