Tag Archives: New Jersey

Making Sand Castles & Blogger Beach Bash

July 31, 2012 superexhausted 3 Comments

My Family attended the Blogger Beach Bash at the Golden Inn in Avalon NJ hosted by Real Mom Media. We also learned how to make sand castles from Travel Channels own Sand Master Matt. It was amazing I learned so much and I can’t wait to play in the sand again using the techniques Matt show us.

Matt’s main Sand Carving points:

build the structure front the bottom up and
let the water act as a glue to hold the sand together.
Use a form – For get the flipping of the bucket method from when you were a kids. Matt company You can dig it Sand Tools Has a hit and video you can buy. It is all about using the right tools for the job. He provided us with the kits and boy did they make the job easier.

Here is a short video of Matt teaching us how to make bricks and an aged effect.

Here is a mention of some of the other days sponsors

Visit Ac if you have not been to Ac be sure to go and check out the duality 3d video on boardwalk hall you can read my post Duality
The Paint Home who did some amazing centerpieces for the event just using every day items you have in your home. The table I sat out had an frame on the table with no glass and a great Victorian feel flower arrangement.
I also got to meet Jordan Schneider – Insurance and Financial Services planning great guy.
Suddenly Safe which is a company that provide detector for knowing when it is too hat to leave your child in the car.
Stacy form Truly Custom Cakes was present and brought us some of her amazing cupcakes. She also made a lovely cake for the day.
Also during the day we got to experience my favorite Ice Tea Honest Tea not to sweet and taste refreshing Honest tea.

The Golden Inn is was a great to to host the event. Be sure to check out my review of out stay in the Golden Inn.

Disclosure: I did receive product and meals during the event. The opinion written in this post are all my own.

Product Reviews, Travel

Golden Inn Review

July 31, 2012 superexhausted

The Golden Inn is was a fabulous to host the BLogger Beach Bash event. We were at the hotel middle of the week and it was a great family atmosphere. The hotel is located so close to the beach walk over the dune and they beach was there. Not to mention the beach chair and umbrellas if you are a hotel guest.

Then after the lovely day on the beach we came in for lunch pool side. My kids loved the pool. I was happy to because the had a shallow area in the pool 3 feet and the pool went to 8 feet deep. My daughter loved diving and jumping in. My son as you know is a pool rat.. (swims a lot) so he stayed in the water.

The rooms were clean, and well furnished. But I have to mention the bed. I have slept in a lot of hotels but these beds where one of the best mattress I EVERY slept on. My husband thought the same. They were Sertas and then a pillow top then great sheets. Also the little containers of shampoo and conditioner i forgot my conditioner so i used the ones provided, it was great my hair felt soft and flowing when I stepped out of the shower.

Also I mush mention the buffet breakfast was lovely my husband had the scrambled eggs and he said they were amazing light fluffy and creamy not what you would expect from a buffet. The hotels restaurant also has nightly dinner specials.. the night we were leaving it was a lobster bake.. made me wish I could stay another night. The owners of the Golden Inn are affiliated with the Omni hotel but the Golden Inn is a private hotel, so great quality.

Avalon NJ is very easy to get too it took us about 2 hours from my home in north Philly. The Hotel is also about a mile front he center of Stone Harbor which has a movie theater, eateries and great fashion shopping

Disclosure: I did receive product and meals during the event. The opinion written in this post are all my own.

Philadelphia, Travel

How I did Atlantic City – What you missed

July 12, 2012 superexhausted

Atlantic City is a fun town!! I spent the 4th of July in Atlantic city. It was a great time, the kids and I were guest of the Visit AC and the Atlantic City Alliance. If you read my post last week, I discussed what we were going to see :the 4th of July Fireworks, Concert and Duality Light show: Here is what you missed!
The fireworks Atlantic Cities are rated in the top in the nation. The Fireworks by Grucci and lasted 20+ minutes. It was great they even had smiley faces in the fireworks. The kids loved it and we had a great time watching them, doing the big Ooos and Ahhs.
The next part of the night was the Kevin Rudolf concert. Kevin Rudolf, included his hits song “let Rock. Be sure to check Let It Rock on out on you tube. My daughter loved the concert it was her 1st concert and seeing it from the front was awesome. One of our favorite songs was Welcome World. I have to say I really his music.. it pop but rock. It is fun to dance to it.

Then after the show she was able to meet Kevin- So cool I got a picture too.. I am so a 15 year old girl.

The Most remarkable part of the evening was “Duality” 3D light show by Moment Factory . The Moment factory did a fabulous job on the light show. Which was remarkably produced in 3 months . The bloggers in attendance including myself got to see a behind the scenes look of the production. Here is are a sneak peak of the computer used to run the light system.
The Duality is a Permanent art insulation that runs every night on boardwalk hall in Atlantic City’s Famed Boardwalk Hall runs every night 2 time an hour and it is really great. The Moment factory Manages to make the hall disappear in the night. Check out the video.

DUALITY – Atlantic City Sound and Light Show – July 4th from Moment Factory on Vimeo.

We also got to sat in the lovely Golden Nugget Hotel in the Marina . Newly renovated, with a price tag of $150 million, the spa alone cost 6$ million. They have very some really fabulous restaurant Chart house and The property is owned and operated by Landry’s Restaurants.
Also the outside pool area is only one of 2 outside pools in Atlantic City and is heated in the winter.
So worth the trip down to Atlantic City to see the show. Also for the kids right near boardwalk hall is located near the Rain Forest Café and Mini golf so you can add more to your trip.

For more photos of my trip check out my Atltantic City Photo Stream from the weekend.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you with the support of the Atlantic City Alliance. Find them on Facebook [LINK TO https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticCityNJ] and Twitter [LINK TO http://www.twitter.com/visitAC]

Philadelphia, Travel

4th of July in Alantic City: Family Time

July 2, 2012 superexhausted 1 Comment

4th of July in Atlantic City, Boardwalk, Fireworks, Concert, 3d Light show created by the Moment factory, beach and with the family! I am so in. My Family and I so thrilled this 4th of July, to be heading to AC to experience how Atlantic city has so many wonderfully things to offer a family while visiting.

I use too always think Adult destination when people talked AC. A year ago, I took my kids to Atlantic City it is a great place to visit with my family. My daughter thought the hotels were very “Fancy “and the pools /beaches were wonderful my son hated leaving. So when AC asked me to visit there lovely town again, I was ready to go with bells on.

This holiday the Atlantic City Alliance is premiering a Moment Factory 3d light show “Duality” on the 4th of July at AC Famous Boardwalk hall. The Aikens clan will be one of the 1st to see the 3d light show. My kids are so excited, to prep them for the experience, we have been watching the video of how they make the light show.

Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall from Moment Factory on Vimeo.

Viewing Tips and Facts about Duality:

How long? 8 1/2 min show is
Cost: free
Runs every 1/2 hour after dark, and
Open to the public year round.
Where: It will play on the façade of Boardwalk Hall, facing the boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. Best viewed from Kennedy Plaza on the boardwalk.
The music is an original score which was composed specifically for Atlantic City by Vincent Letellier who created a mixing orchestral music, indie-pop sensibility and electronics
The creators of the “Duality” Moment factory have created multimedia elements for shows performed by Celine Dion in Las Vegas, Jay-Z, Arcade Fire, Madonna, Cirque du Soleil, Microsoft, Disney and various other clients
The show was commissioned by Atlantic City Alliance a non profit, purpose is to create a more diverse Atlantic City.

Atlantic City boardwalk Fireworks for the 4th of July and the light show “Duality” will be such a memorable experience for the kids, I cant wait to share the entire experience with them.

I hope you can come and join me in Atlantic city. It would will be truly magical night!!

Parenting, Travel

Visit to NJ Capital

January 19, 2012 superexhausted 3 Comments

So recently we were invited to NJ State Museum and The NJ Statehouse. We had a fun day and learn somethings too. I grew up in New Jersey but never tour the Trenton Nj capital till recently. Jersey Family fun planned the day for us and it was such a treat.

We started with the NJ State Museum which is free, (you leave a donation if you wish). The have wonderful museum 3 floor. Which contains Dinosaurs, Nature, Nj History, and art exhibits. So a little bit of everything. The also planned a head for kids and through out the Museum is a kids stations so children can also do small interactive things as well. Like designing a quilt or looking to a microscope.

While we were there that had a singing performer and a large Dino puppet(man ) walking around.

Also the Museum has a Planteriam and for a small fee of about $6.00 you can see there exhibit.My daughter and son loved it because it was 3-D

Then we headed over for a NJ Statehouse Capital Building Tour. Where we heard about the building and the legistrative process. Because the house and Nj congress was not in session we really got to see the behind the scenes.

Take a look at the building:

My son got to attend a Mock hearing of law making which he loved in the bottom of the capital building which he loved. I have to say we had a great day. I would recommending packing a lunch because there is no place to eat near the capital or museum.

I loved the idea it was in with in a 1/2 drive from where we live in north Philadelphia. We had a great day it was a fun way to spend the afternoon. Thank you to Jennifer at Jersey Family Fun, NJ State Museum and NJ State House for having us for the day.

Superexhausted