Comment on Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle ~ Fitbit Giveaway by Stephanie Galbraith

I wold do the personal training.

Comment on 16 Graduation Party Ideas ~ Giveaway by Sue Ellison

Start early so you have plenty of party favors to choose from.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester ~ $100 Giveaway by Stephanie Galbraith

Just take it one day at a time, one hour at a time if you need.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester ~ $100 Giveaway by Dana Cerrito

drink a lot of water and give in to those cravings you deserve it!

Comment on Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle ~ Fitbit Giveaway by Tara

Tubing sounds fun to me!

Comment on 5 Ways To Save On Summer Fun by Laura J

OH I love those water sponges! They would love those thi s summer!

Pitbull takes up residence at Madame Tussauds Orlando

Pitbull visited Orlando to play a concert at Universal Studios Florida, but now you can see him permanently in Orlando…or at least his double. A brand-new Pitbull model was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Orlando as the second addition since the wax museum opened at I-Drive 360, along with the Orlando Eye wheel and the Sea Life Aquarium, on May 4.

Earlier this month, Disney Channel Ross Lynch welcomed his likeness. Then Pitbull stepped up on May 29 to meet his doppleganger, complete with a tuxedo donated by the superstar rapper. I love the fact that he couldn’t resist tugging the figure’s ear. Many guests do the same when they see the celebs at Madame Tussauds due to the eerie likeness.

If you’d like to see the full video of the unveiling, it’s captured on the video below. Pitbull was suitably impressed by the figure that was created after artisans took 300 measurements and spent long months crafting it down to the finest detail, just as they do with all their wax likenesses:

Expect more unveilings in the future, as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is most definitely not a static attraction. New celebs and other prominent figures are added all the time to locations around the country and the world.

Want to see the Ross Lynch unveiling? Here’s the video of the teen heartthrob meeting his match:

A+ Teacher Gift Tag

Another school year has come and gone, it is hard to believe! My daughter had another excellent year, due in large part to an awesome teacher. In fact, her teacher is an A+ Teacher! To thank her for everything she has done for my student this year, I came up with an A+ Teacher Gift Tag. (And […]

The post A+ Teacher Gift Tag appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

Watch it Live: Soccer Stadium Downtown Orlando Announcement

(Watch it live HERE) There will be a special announcement regarding the Downtown Soccer Stadium during a press conference featuring Orlando City Majority Owner Flávio Augusto da Silva, Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Friday, May 29, 2015 at 2:00pm at Orlando City Hall (400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801).

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Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester ~ $100 Giveaway by Denise L

I had horrible sickness with my first baby. With the second I found that eating pretty much constantly helped keep the nausea at bay.

Comment on Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle ~ Fitbit Giveaway by Elle P.

aerobic kickboxing sounds like fun.

Cobra’s Curse spin coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa ramps up snake phobia

Scared of snakes? Get queasy when you see their coils and shaky at the sight of their scales? Then you’ll want to beware in the Egypt section of Busch Gardens Tampa next year, as the Cobra’s Curse spin coaster is set to debut in 2016.

As the name suggests, Cobra’s Curse is themed to snakes, with a towering 80 foot tower that will leave no doubt as to the theme. The coaster will have a unique vertical lift, along with the spins typical of this type of ride. It will offer fun for coaster enthusiasts, but it will also be suitable for younger members of the family who’ve outgrown coasting with Grover and who want to start cutting their teeth on the more intimidating rides (the classic Scorpion looping coaster is great for that, too).

A real life herp was on hand at the Cobra’s Curse spin coaster announcement, along with plenty of concept area. As is typical at Busch Gardens, the ride will feature heavy theming that immerses guests in its Egyptian setting. It will sit near the suspended coaster Montu, adding a nice touch to that side of the park. You can see Montu off to the side in this construction photo:

And here’s some concept art showcasing a theme that will send snake phobics into fits:

Look good so far? Check out this video, which includes some virtual ride footage of the Cobra’s Curse spin coaster:

Pretty cool, eh? I suspect that SheiKra will always remain my favorite Busch Gardens Tampa coaster, but Cobra’s Curse will be a fun little indulgence. Speaking of other fun rides, don’t forget about Falcon’s Fury, which takes you more than 300 feet into the air before tipping you forward for a face-down plummet. Here’s the video of my very first ride:

Enjoy Falcon’s Fury, SheiKra, Montu, Cheetah Hunt and all the other fun rides while you count down to the Cobra’s Curse spin coaster in 2016.

Comment on 16 Graduation Party Ideas ~ Giveaway by Sarah L

Do as much as you can before the party so you can enjoy it.
Thanks for the contest.

Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by tina reynolds

This would help with my daughter and i s allergies we have a rough time with them

Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by Mary Cloud

Hopefully it will help us get our allergy problems under control so we can get to having more fun

Comment on Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle ~ Fitbit Giveaway by Stefanie Gladden

kickboxing & the scavenger hunts would be fun for me!

SeaWorld Orlando Mako hypercoaster is just one part of new Shark Realm

SeaWorld Orlando will soon be home to the tallest, longest, fastest roller coaster in Orlando. The Mako hypercoaster, named for a speedy species of shark, will rise 200 feet into the air by the time it’s done for the 2016 season, with top speeds of 73 mph and nearly a mile of track. Better yet for coaster enthusiasts like me is the fact that it’s built for maximum airtime. Be prepared to pop up in your seat repeatedly as you zip through the dips and hills.

I’m a long-time lover of B&M roller coasters like SheiKra and Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa, and B&M is also the company behind SeaWorld’s Kraken and Manta thrill machines, as well as Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure. I’m also a big air-time fan, and as of now we don’t have a good airtime option in Orlando. I pick up nice pops on ShieKra and Cheetah Hunt, but that requires over an hour of drive time to Busch. Now it looks like I’ll have my pop-out-of-your-seat thrills a lot closer to home.

SeaWorld announced Mako with flair, showing concept art and a virtual big-screen POV ride. Virtual reality is fine, but the park also wanted the media to experience a bit of Mako first hand. They offered crane rides 200 feet up to the spot where Mako’s lift hill will peak. Yes, it’s the same as SheiKra, but it’s so much more intimidating when you’re in a crane car dangling by what feels like a thread!

You can’t beat the view, though, with stunning sights like Kraken and the Orlando Eye looming over the Orange County Convention Center in the distance.

Mako is just one part of what will become a whole area devoted to sharks. You’ve already got the Shark Encounter and Sharks Underwater Grill, a sit-down restaurant with an amazing aquatic view. Now those areas will become part of a bigger themed land known for now as Sharks Realm.

While the name will likely change down the road, the concept will stay the same. You’ll see sharks and learn more about them, including ways to help them. We tend to view them as vicious predators, and they’re no slouches when it comes to hunting down prey, but unfortunately man in making it hard for them to survive. You’ll learn about doing things as simple as eating sustainable fish to help ensure that sharks will still find a hospitable home in our oceans.

Mako should be ready for next year’s summer season. While it will be hard to wait a whole year for a B&M hypercoaster in Orlando, I’ll enjoy watching it rise up above the construction walls at SeaWorld. In the meantime, Manta and Kraken will still be in full operation, and of course you’ll see plenty of dolphins, orcas, sea lions, and other talented animals bringing their special brand of delight to park guests. If you haven’t seen Sea Lion High yet, here are some highlights:

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester ~ $100 Giveaway by Angela Cash

My favorite tip for surviving the first trimester is to modify your fitness routine so that you can stay active. Cycling is my fave activity.

Josh Duggar: Does he deserve forgiveness?

When I heard about this latest revelation from the Duggar family, I can’t say that I wasn’t too shocked about it. Now I’m not saying that I wasn’t a fan of the show I was; however there was always that thought in the back of my mind that something wasn’t up to par. Its fine if you want to have 137 19 kids it’s not our responsibility to judge your reproduction. I as many people tend to have voiced their negative feeling towards the Duggars solely because they’re very vocal about how they live often criticizing those who go against their beliefs. You believing in procreating is fine that doesn’t mean everyone will share the same notion or are less than human if they have a different opinion. What I did find odd the many people online agreeing that he should somehow get a “forgiveness pass” because he repented for crimes he should have been punished for. My opinion wouldn’t be so vocal if that family wasn’t big hypocrites. You can promote family values and hid the fact that you son has exhibit vile behavior.

Photo Credit: Duggar Family Blog

This family is very discriminatory, especially the rights of LGBT and women’s abortion rights, women should have the right to choose and the LGBT community should have the same civil rights as all Americans. Michelle Duggar made a robocall against ordnance 119 opposing the anti-discrimination law in her state. She voiced last year that “The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men – yes I said men – to use women’s and girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only.” I don’t believe that Mrs. Duggar understands child predatory laws, if a person is convicted as a sex offender they aren’t allow around children period. They would remain on the child sex offender list forever making it illegal to be around children. Her statement was null and void; the message was discriminatory in nature aiming solely towards the gay community. You can use the family values line of morality then discriminate. By the way the ordnance was later repealed in December.

Photo Credit: DANNY JOHNSTON/AP

I found this stance odd considering the entire Duggar clan knew that Josh had molested five girls, four of the alleged girls are Duggars with the fifth girl unknown (victims names redacted, report shows four of the victims lived in the Duggar home). Josh made a statement to the public via People Magazine admitting to the accusations saying that he “acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret.” He would then turn to his parents who sought out help from the church Elders, then notifying a Police Officer family friend. That police office is now serving time for child pornography. Jim Bob Duggar refused to let authorities question Josh on the alleged accusations. Josh apologized to the church then sent away for “Counseling” which turned in to the accused Duggar working on a construction site of another family friend for three months. Duggar never received the profession help he needed, as the family would turn again to faith “relying on God more than ever.”

As a Christian I believe in redemption, no judgment there. Many people have redeeming qualities; it seems to me there was zero redemption and a lot of lies to the public. If you commit a crime you should be punished especially when it involves the safety of minor child. Josh Duggar committed a crime that his family tried to cover up. These allegations came out nine years ago after an email was sent to The Oprah Winfrey Show the day before the family were due to appear. Winfrey cancelled the appearance forwarding the email to the authorities.

My problem is do we excuse this and give him a pass? Personally, I say no. We as humans can agree to disagree on many things this subject I stand firm. I liked this show due to its preconceived family values and love of the God. He’s being treated by some as a victim; he is not the girls he alleged molested are the real victims here. I don’t think the entire family should be punished the other kids aren’t to blame here. The parents and son are to blame here. I’m mad as a mother of a young daughter. If Josh Duggar were a normal person out of the spotlight there wouldn’t be pause for further questions. He would have been punished.

Duggar, wife Anna and Kids.
Photo Credit: PEOPLE MAGAZINE

TLC should take a stance doing what is right by canceling 19 Kids and Counting. I believe TLC knew about these alleged accusations doing nothing because this show was a cash cow for the network. So far reruns for 19 Kids and Counting are pull from the networks current program. But the fate of the show is still in the air. Many sponsors like General Mills have pulled their advertising from the show. More are expected to follow.  This situation pangs me something terrible, this was a show I could watch with my children in lieu of the many terrible reality shows on television. All families have secrets and issues; to me this family perpetrated a fraudulent life to the public. My grandmother always said “what you do in the dark, will come to light…” I guess this is an awakening moment for the Duggar family. I can’t speak for every viewer, this former viewer can no longer support this show or family. I pray for the victims they aren’t at fault here, just victims of circumstance.  That’s my opinion for now.

Always Candid,

Elle

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Comment on Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle ~ Fitbit Giveaway by steve weber

Definitely the white-water rafting.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester ~ $100 Giveaway by Sandy Klocinski

The first trimester was all about survival mode for me. My friends thought I’d been kidnapped by aliens — they didn’t see me for about 6 weeks. Just say no to things that aren’t VITAL to your survival.

What should we expect with Orlando’s November elections? Low turnout.

In just six months, Orlando may have a new mayor and three new city council members. The Orlando City Commission recently approved moving elections to November up from April of 2015 at the partial suggestion of Bill Cowles, Orange County’s supervisor of elections.

Cowles said that having municipal elections just three weeks after the Republican presidential primary would likely confuse voters, so to encourage increased voter participation, the city should alter the date or merge them with the presidential primary.

Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel / October 24, 2011

The city took his advice but moved the elections a full five months ahead of schedule to November. With 2015 being an off-cycle election year, participation is likely to be down. By changing the date, the city at least the city avoided confusion, I think.

Commissioner Robert Stuart was opposed to moving the elections up to November but not totally because of the abruptness of the date.

“I believe the greater question is…when should the terms of the city commissioners start? We now start on June 1. Is that the appropriate time to start? Should we start the first day of the fiscal year, which would give us an entire year of the process,” Stuart said.

So why did Orlando move the election so far ahead when November 3^rd is such an arbitrary date? According to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, it will help to keep municipal elections conflict and partisan free.

“It is a stand alone date that does not conflict with anything. It allows us to preserve a non-partisan election date,” said Dyer to the Orlando Sentinel.

Dyer’s likely referring to the Republican primary for president in April. If the city chose to move its election date to match the primary, more Republicans would have turned out to vote, somewhat diminishing Dyer’s hopes of re-election.

A registered Democrat who has plenty of Republican friends and allies—ask Rick Scott and Dean Cannon—Dyer shouldn’t have an issue in that department.

But the city has had problems with voter turnout as of late. Moving the election up five months gives potential candidates just six months to get their campaigns together. Running for office is an arduous and timely task. Taking on an incumbent, especially a well oiled one like Dyer, is even harder. More money needs to be raised, maybe more mailers produced, more doors to be knocked, and just more of everything.

This may also be a way for current council members who are up for re-election to preserve their seats.

Has to be something because “partisan free” and “conflict” don’t pass the smell test. Considering Orlando voters seem to be fairly apathetic towards voting during municipal elections anyway, participation and being dithered about an election date are least of a worry.

The last time Dyer was up for election, just 15.9% of the electorate showed up. That election was in April, too. Did the city have this in mind when moving the election to boost turnout? Doubtful.

For the sake of hindsight and just curiosity, why did the city really move the election up five months? Why not keep with April, share the date with the presidential primary, or just move it up a few weeks instead of months?

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2012 Orlando Municipal Elections

Photo courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel

On April 3^rd, 2012, over 20,000 registered Orlando voters cast ballots for mayor and commissioner. Turnout was poor and no precinct had over 28% participation.

At his re-election soiree, Dyer strongly declared his victory as “overwhelming.”

“To have such an overwhelming victory against three opponents certainly validates the direction I am leading the city,” Dyer said to the Sentinel.

In one sense Dyer is correct. He did beat his challengers like a drum. He scrounged up nearly 60% of the votes cast and his nearest competitor, former Commissioner Phil Diamond, managed just 27%.

But Orlando had over 131,000 registered voters at the time. If just 15% of them show up to give a mandate, that certainly dilutes the definition of the word.

If anything, this may have been a show of municipal apathy, a word thrown around as easily as the wind nowadays.

Dyer was beaten up pretty bad during his last run. One his most vocal opponents, Mike Cantone, called Dyer “ an abusive and absent” leader. He has consistently criticized Dyer’s handling of the city’s finances, writing articles that show the city is in debt to the Sunshine State Government Financing Commission to the tune of $115 million.

Phil Diamond, a former city commissioner, was in the 2012 race for mayor, too. He, like Cantone, dinged Dyer’s handling of the city’s money.

“There’s a lot of concern about [Dyer’s] handling of the venues, and fiscal responsibility in general,” Diamond told the Sentinel.

Those ghosts from 2012 are likely to re-emerge come November. While Cantone and Diamond won’t aren’t candidates this time, so they won’t be around to pick at Dyer, those concerns about the city’s finances will be.

In June of last year, Dyer and the city’s chief financial officer revealed that Orlando faced a $52 million budget gap. Not because of bad deals on venues or bad money management. It was, as put by the mayor, due to voters’ decision to place a cap on property appraisement.

Because of that, the city is limited to grow its tax base.

To curb the issue, the city council approved a property tax increase of nearly 18% to help cover the gap. And again—Dyer and the council trimmed departmental budgets to cover the funding hole.

These problems were bubbling in 2012 as evidenced by Cantone and Diamond’s noise surrounding them.

But taxes and department budgets aren’t fun to talk about. Not really a fun thing to skip to the polls over either.

Maybe the silver lining here is that Orlando’s abysmal turnout isn’t a local problem. It is actually a national issue.

The 15% who showed to the polls in 2012 are about par for the course. So Orlando may not be doing so bad after all.

According to multiple studies, one by governing.com to be exact, turnout in local and municipal elections have been sliding for decades.

In large municipalities like Los Angeles and New York City, residents there are just as apathetic as both cities set record low numbers for turnout. In Los Angeles, 21 percent of the electorate voted while 24 percent bounced to the polls in New York City.

See, Orlando. Your outlook isn’t so bad.

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Future Turnout

Americans in general just seem to be “meh” regarding voting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as increased turnout doesn’t necessarily equal better results. That solution is subjective. If the candidate that I support wins, then I surely believe that the process works.

Voter turnout doesn’t negate my feelings on who may be best for the job, only results have that power. If my candidate loses, then my thought process may switch to the belief that greater turnout would have aided in achieving the results that I want.

So believing in the theory that a buoyant electorate will yield better politicians is slightly naive and superficial. If anything, more voters showing to the polls will likely underscore results that we already have.

Unless more minorities come to the polls and the electorate is more rounded than what its history suggests. 2012’s results show that those who voted were overwhelmingly white. Caucasian voters made up 13,000 of the 20,000 who showed up to vote. Just 4,000 were black 1,900 were Hispanic.

If make-up of the electorate remained and turnout simply increased, then Dyer would probably maintain the same percentage if turnout was boosted another 15% percent.

But even so, with so much swirling around Orlando, it is tough to completely ignore the negative.

All of this—the money problems and tax issues—will certainly be on the minds of some voters when they head to the polls this November.

But I guess the main question remains what the new election date will do to turnout.

Back to the governing.com, the research there shows that 15% will likely be a high point. If the city would have stuck with the original date or moved it back to November of 2016, they would have saved money while seeing an uptick in voters.

Also—removing the non-partisan tag would yield bigger numbers.

Yet Orlando is bent on having a stand alone election that’s not polluted by partisan bickering. So until city leaders decide to merge with a national election, then turnout in Orlando municipal elections will remain flat.

If so, a 15% turnout may be a sign of the good ‘ol day.

-JH

If you want more politics, well, because who doesn’t, click the links below.

No bastions of glory for Freddie Gray

In politics, how do we define humanity?

Ben Carson to run for president

photo credit: #MegaMarcha 197 via photopin (license)

Preschool: Rainy Day Fun

When: Friday, May 29, 2015 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: West Oaks Branch at West Oaks - Meeting Room 1

Are you ready for some rainy day fun? Come and enjoy stories, songs and crafts at the library all about the rain. Ages 3-5.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester by Marilyn Nawara

Stay busy and get a lot of sleep.

Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by Christina Sparks

My husband has allergies and we have two dogs, this would make life simpler.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester by Stephanie Shipley

My tip is to carry around bland snacks to help with upset stomach. I always carried around baggies of dry Cheerios during my entire pregnancy.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester by Diana B

Drink lots of water and rest when you can. I was so tired this time, I don’t even know how I functioned.

Harvey Milk’s words, symbol still hold firm today

“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”

Those words, true to this day, were spoken by Harvey Milk decades ago. Today, May 22, we celebrate him.

In 1977, Harvey Milk became the first gay man elected to public office in California after winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This was before the AIDS epidemic, yet after the Stonewall Riots. The world had been thrust into the gay rights movement, and what Harvey did was not show the world the power of militant activism — which has its time and place. He showed the citizens of San Francisco that a leader, an inspiring leader, can be trustworthy, honorable and true, regardless of background, regardless of sexual orientation, regardless of who they love.

View image | gettyimages.com

Our news cycles are riddled with details of racism, homophobia, transphobia and intolerance, yet we are still better off today than Harvey was decades ago. Though we face, nearly daily, the murders of young men and women of color and it seems the LGBTQ+ rights movement has a new obstacle with each passing victory, we can turn to Harvey to see what it’s like to truly overcome.

In 1977, when being gay was the one of the toughest hands life could deal you, he overcame. He rose up. He stood proudly on the streets of San Francisco and showed the world that people of all creeds, colors, backgrounds and abilities are free to achieve whatever they believe.

View image | gettyimages.com

“It’s not my victory, it’s yours and yours and yours. If a gay can win, it means there is hope that the system can work for all minorities if we fight. We’ve given them hope,” he’s quoted as saying. In a time where simply being a non-white citizens seems to be a death sentence, or being transgender makes you the target of unfair media scrutiny, those words, among his many others, ring true.

In the spirit of Harvey Milk Day, remember to love one another, to support one another and to remember that when one person is victimized, when one person’s access to achievement of any kind is hindered, then everyone — gay, straight, black, white and everything in between — suffers.

Wellspring Camps Teach Kids How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle

This post brought to you by Wellspring Camps. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Suburban Mom.

How will your kids spend the summer? Sitting on the couch absorbed in electronics? Wouldn’t you rather see them enjoying the outdoors and learning to live a healthy lifestyle? If you are looking for something fun and active… Read more →

Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by Lisa Davis

I have terrible allergies. I hope I win so I can use this in my bedroom.

Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester by Natalie S

For me, it was sipping on ginger ale and eating saltine crackers. Thank goodness I did not vomit any, but the these two things did help to keep my nausea at bay!

LG G4 Preview {Review}

Recently, I got an email from LG and T-Mobile…asking me to try out the LG G4…a brand new phone that hasn’t been released yet. First, we need to talk about my love of gadgets and shiny new objects. I love trying new things. But I also need to disclose that I’m not an Android phone user. But I have always been interested about the other sides. I have always wanted to try them because in another life…

I was a backend Java developer and I once helped tweak an Android app at work for a side project my co-workers were working on. Like I said, I have always been interested about how the other side works…so I did a quick internet search and I saw the words: “this smartphone has the best camera” on the market next to the words LG G4. This I have to see and try. I’m so glad I did!

Click to continue...LG G4 Preview {Review}

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© The Little Kitchen, 2015. | Permalink | No comment |

I-4 Ultimate Information Open House May 28th

The public is invited to learn more about the I-4 Ultimate project during a public information open house, and how the project is transforming Altamonte Springs, Longwood and Maitland, as well as the entire 21-mile corridor. The open house is scheduled Thursday, May 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the RDV Sportsplex – Magic Gym, located at 8701 Maitland Summit Boulevard.

“We encourage the public to attend this event to learn more about the project, view area maps and displays, and discuss the project with staff,” said Loreen Bobo, P.E., I-4 Ultimate Construction Program Manager.

The project officially launched in February 2015 and expected completion is 2021. The I-4 Ultimate project is rebuilding 21 miles of Interstate 4 from Kirkman Road in Orange County to SR 434 in Seminole County, adding two new dynamically tolled Express Lanes—eastbound and westbound, replacing more than 140 bridges, reconfiguring 15 major interchanges and reconstructing the entire existing roadway.

Major changes planned for the northern end of the project include: elevating Maitland Boulevard over several side streets; constructing the Maitland Boulevard pedestrian bridge; reconfiguring the State Road (SR) 436 interchange to a single-point diamond interchange; and constructing a new pedestrian bridge at SR 436.

As construction activities begin to accelerate, drivers should expect to see temporary roadways, bridges and ramps, and continued traffic pattern changes and shifts. Lane closures will be limited to mostly nighttime hours, beginning as early as 8:30 p.m. and continuing as late as 7 a.m. Work may also require ramp closures for extended periods.


Additional project information, including an up-to-date list of lane and ramp closures, are posted on I4Ultimate.com. Motorists are encouraged to sign up for project newsletters and route-specific alerts through the website to help make informed decisions about when and where to travel.

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Comment on 5 Tips For Surviving The First Trimester by Terry Maigi

Rest, rest, rest! As much as possible! I also kept crackers in my purse, so anytime I felt nauseous or a smell affected me I would nibble on those and they helped so much!

Comment on Easy Peasy Lunch With Hellmann’s Squeeze Bottle by lala r

love squeeze bottles. so convenient

7 tips for finding Internet while traveling Internationally

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Came back recently from a Cruise to the Bahamas with the family and came back ready to rock and roll. We had a chance to visit Nassau and sight see on the island including stopping by Atlantis. We got to check out Cabbage beach and had the pleasure of just sitting back and relaxing. I would highly recommend when traveling and vacationing abroad with the family to disconnect and enjoy. However there might be a time where you might need to check back on the office and having access to WiFi or internet is a necessity.

There are some misconceptions about WiFi and connecting to the internet when traveling abroad and I would like to give you some advice.

• Unless you are like going somewhere super remote, WiFi is every where! Especially in the Bahamas. Pop into any McDonalds or Burger king and connect there.
• There are many locations that offer WiFi for free or for a charge. You might have to pay a pretty penny but it is there for you to connect.
• Internet cafes are everywhere in certain countries and that may be the most cost effective route. When I visited Costa Rica in 2013 I was in shock to see that Internet cafes were actually a very lucrative business. Internet cafes were everywhere! This might be the most cost effective route vs paying for WiFi.
• When in doubt ask the locals. If you are not too sure just ask a local and more than likely you will find what you are looking for.
• Be careful with Roaming!
• If you absolutely have to upload work when abroad.. do it off line first, so you do not have to rack up a bill while finishing up your work.
• It’s not that serious. Wait till you get back home to log in to Facebook. It’s not that serious.

When I visited Mexico and Costa Rica I thought internet was going to be a rare commodity. It is not and Wifi was available in a lot of spots. My best advice is to leave your work at home while on vacation and just enjoy the Sun and your Corona.

P.S. – Cruise companies should start providing free Wifi on Ships. Customers will love you for it and it can add a lot of value to the experience. Take a risk and give it a shot it because you might be able to generate more revenue from the front page and a store front that pops up when you first connect vs what you are getting now from charging. Thin about it.

Thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Kedesh

Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by Anita L

I would love to use this in our living room. My elderly mother and myself have terrible allergies and we would love some relief!

Gain Water Confidence With Stearns Puddle Jumper

This post brought to you by Stearns Puddle Jumpers®. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Suburban Mom.

It’s pool season, and my girls have already begun the daily request to go swimming after school. When school gets out in a couple of weeks, we will probably be in the pool everyday. While my oldest has turned into a … Read more →

7th Annual Audience Choice Awards Presented by TheDailyCity.com for the 2015 Orlando Fringe Festival

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Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwiches

I love breakfast and I try to not skip such an important meal. I love quick and easy meals! Cobblestone Bread Co. has a great new line of bagels and English muffins and asked me to share a recipe with you all using one of their new products.

I love their English muffins! And I love how it helps me make breakfast quicker and easier.

Click to continue...Bacon Gouda Breakfast Sandwiches

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Comment on Clean The Air In Your Home Remotely With Holmes Smart Air Purifier ~ Giveaway by Holly

I have 3 cats so I’m very concerned with the allergens & dander in the air, this would give me peace of mind!

Coconut Almond Milk Tea Smoothies with Boba

I love boba and I love milk tea! It’s an obsession and I recently started working with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk. It’s such a natural fit. Last year, I started buying their Almondmilk and love it. I use it in drinks, coffee, teas and in my cereal! It has a nice taste…I have been trying […]

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Sand

I would like to try the Golden Vanilla.

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Lisa Garner

I most want to try the Clean Laundry.

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by heather s

clean laundry

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Michelle D

I'd love to try the Caribbean Colada PERK scent!

10 Things To Do With Your Preschooler At Disney

Disney brings out the kid in all of us. Whether your first visit to Disney World is as a small child or as grandparent, there is plenty to do and to see. But what is the perfect age to take kids for the very first time? Preschool age! At that age kids get so excited so seeing […]

The post 10 Things To Do With Your Preschooler At Disney appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

TechKrew: Technology Pettin Zoo for Teens

When: Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Where: Washington Park Branch at Washington Park - Ask At Desk

Learners will be introduced to Multimedia Portable Devices.
Learners will become familiar with basic eReader and MP3 player features.
Learners will become familiar with the many free downloadable library resources.
#afterschool

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Laurie Emerson

I would like to try the Summer Berry scent.

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Kate Newton

The Golden Vanilla sounds awesome! Thank you for the opportunity to win!

Turn Up Your Crazy at Hyatt Regency Orlando on May 24th!

Let’s be honest:  Orlando has more than your average amount of options when it comes to making plans for your weekend fun.  With not one but three world class theme parks all vying for more and more of your time and attention (notice I didn’t mention $$$$, but they vie ... Read More »

Say goodbye to “planking,” I’ve got the new craze right here

Ahoy! Are you physically cut and lean? Do you live for the element of surprise? Do you seek a fast-paced lifestyle? Do you have commitment, charisma and cunning tendencies? Is your stamina at the mediocre mark? Are you easily nauseated? Do you have the coordination and the where-with-all to maintain ... Read More »

Easy Peasy Lunch With Hellmann’s Squeeze Bottle

A good sandwich always makes me think of my grandfather. He loved a thick sandwich with meat, cheese and veggies piled high. He used to call it an Army man’s sandwich. Of course, a sandwich isn’t complete without my favorite condiment — mayonnaise. And making a sandwich with Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise just got easier with […]

The post Easy Peasy Lunch With Hellmann’s Squeeze Bottle appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

Learn Your SleepIQ And Commit To Sleep

This post brought to you by Sleep Number. The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Suburban Mom. How many hours a night do you sleep? I can honestly say, not enough. Everyone knows the recommended number of hours for a good night’s rest is eight. I typically get around six (the national average […]

The post Learn Your SleepIQ And Commit To Sleep appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

The Motherhood Selects: A Few Of Our Favorite Things

“The Motherhood would like to send you a box filled with some of our favorite things. How does that sound?” Ummm, yes please! When that question arrived in my inbox I didn’t hesitate. Of course, who wouldn’t want to receive a box filled with surprise gifts? Arriving just in time for Mother’s Day, when my box […]

The post The Motherhood Selects: A Few Of Our Favorite Things appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Paula Michele Hafner

I would like New Car or Clean Laundry the most!

Calling All Craft Beer Enthusiasts: Jake’s Beer Festival at @Loews_Hotels Royal Pacific Resort!

Loews Royal Pacific Resort celebrates the start of the summer season with the first Jake’s Beer Festival of 2015 on May 22nd, Friday. Guests can enjoy more than 50 craft and specialty beers, creative and tasty foods expertly prepared by the hotel’s award-winning chefs and live entertainment under the outdoor ... Read More »

When Calls The Heart – Big City Or Small Town?

Do you ever find yourself talking to the TV? I admit, I am guilty! And when I watch the When Calls The Heart series, I always have an opinion.  “Oh Elizabeth, leave the city and go back to Coal Hope Valley! They need you. Jack needs you! That Rosemary is going to get in the way of […]

The post When Calls The Heart – Big City Or Small Town? appeared first on TheSuburbanMom.

Comment on PERK Visor Wrap – Discreet And Powerful Protection Against Car Funk ~ Giveaway by Ani

i want to try the Clean Laundry scent.

Comment on Lunch On The Go With Mott’s Snack & Go by Natalie Brown

These snacks are such a healthy and easy idea! I'll have to look for them for my grandson. The strawberry applesauce sounds delicious!

Video - Orange County Fire Charities - Professional Firefighters Fight for Place in 2016 Calendar at Saturday Night Competition

Donate:
OCFireCharities@gmail.com
www.Facebook.com/OCFireCharities
www.pffcalendar.com

Orange County Fire Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization created to help other non profits in Central Florida. Administered by firefighters, its philanthropic efforts are aimed at the causes community firefighters care about including cancer awareness, pediatric illnesses, and MDA.

On Saturday May 9, 2015, 25 of Central Florida’s fittest firefighters competed for a chance to secure their spot in the inaugural 2016 Professional Firefighters Calendar. The competition, hosted by Orange County Fire Charities, was held Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 8 p.m. at The Abbey (100 S. Eola Drive). Proceeds benefited the United Way.

“This is a great opportunity for hardworking firefighters to showcase their commitment to health and fitness with a fun event that benefits United Way charities in our community,” said Kathy Argabright, chairperson of Orange County Fire Charities.

The event featured catered food, desserts and specially-themed cocktails, live music and 25 professional firefighters strutting their stuff for a live audience. Celebrity guest judges (including The Daily City's own Mark Baratelli) scored the contestants on physical fitness, personality/showmanship, overall appearance and audience response.

“Our community loves its firefighters,” said Argabright. “Attending is a wonderful way for citizens to show their support of firefighters and make a difference for charities in Central Florida.”

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