Join me and @WGYLifestyle for a TWITTER PARTY #WGYLifestyle

June 8, 2015 by 1 Comment

Join me on June 9 (Tuesday) at 8 pm EST for a fun Travel Twitter Party.

Summer is here, and for those who are craving a Summer Getaway, this contest if for you! We have teamed up with WGY Lifestyle to put together a fabulous vacation opportunity.

THE PRIZE:

A $400 Hotel Certificate for any  St Regis, W Hotel or Luxury Collection Property in the world. In addition, the winner will receive Luxury Privileges at their hotel of choice, which includes an additional $100 resort credit, breakfast for 2, upgrade upon availability, early check-in and late check-out (based on availability).  This voucher is good until June 10, 2016.

This is your opportunity to win an amazing Stay-Cation or choose any destination in the world to go visit. (The grand prize is for hotel accommodations only.)

How To Enter The Contest:

1. Enter the contest by posting a picture to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter of your favorite vacation memory in the past. In the caption tell us why you would love to win this contest! In your caption or post you MUST include the both hashtags #Millennialtalk and #WGYLifestyle. We will be tracking impressions of each hashtag in analytics reports. The picture with the most impressions aka likes, favorite, comments, shares, re-tweets etc. will be THE WINNER! It is up to you to get your friends, family, and followers to show you some social support and help you win the ultimate prize.

2. Follow @WGYLifestyle on Twitter and Facebook here.

3. Tweet-  Just entered to win #travel contest valued over $400 via @chelseakrost @WGYLifestyle @HaveSippy #WGYLifestyle http://bit.ly/1JtlEUr

***We recommend you post your picture to Fb, Twitter, and instagram if you have accounts created***

Extra Details:

The winner can be a U.S and Non-U.S resident.

You must be 18 years and older to win enter the contest.

Join us Tuesday, June 9  at 8 pm ET for #MillennialTalk Twitter Chat.

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Backpacking Guide

June 7, 2015 by 1 Comment

The Canary Islands have long since shed their reputation as a one-trick holiday destination. It’s not just sandcastles and surf that have budget travellers and backpackers raving about their cheap holidays. With snow-capped peaks, UNESCO protected waters, and epic treks, this archipelago brings a bevy of options to the table when planning your next vacation.

Tenerife

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It would be easy to spend all day in Tenerife splayed-out on one of the many world-class beaches, such as Playas de Las Americas, then crashing at night in a surf-house hostel only to wake up and do it all again. But straying to seek-out the rare-gems of Tenerife won’t empty your wallet.

Mount Teide National Park, located in the interior of the island, is a great place to start, and features biking and climbing routes for the thrill-seekers, as well as hiking routes through the park’s eerie rock formations.

Back out on the coast, Los Gigantes is a can’t miss destination. A towering rock-formation that rises 800 meters above the placid waters of the harbour, it is sure to make your jaw drop. Head out for an intimate cruise alongside local schools of dolphins, or explore the Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Gardens.

Finally, for a real local experience, catch a boat to nearby Gomera, where you’ll find a small rural paradise of local villages and waterfalls, seemingly untouched by time.

Lanzarote

Boasting over 100 scenic beaches with careful planning controls, the coastal atmosphere of Lanzarote is serene, and full of cheap eats.

Head to the interior, however, and you will find a different story. Timanfaya National Park sits on a hardened sea of lava, formed after an 18th century eruption, and its stark landscape is begging to be explored on foot.

If it’s art your looking for, be sure to check-out any of the six centres developed by César Manrique, including an auditorium built from a collapsed lava tube, and a gun battery overlooking the neighbouring island. All attractions are state-owned and modestly priced.

Gran Canaria

The main hot spot in Gran Canaria is Las Palmas, the largest city in the Canary Islands. Here you can walk in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus, exploring beaches and historic sites like Puerto de la Luz, and Catedral de Canarias. But venturing outside the city is where the real discoveries are to be made.

Gran Canaria holds some of the best-kept secrets for trekking in Europe, and has gone largely unspoiled over the years. There are single day and multi-day hikes available, which roam through landscapes like the lush mountain village of Santa Lucia-Guayadeque, and the Southwestern ridge of the Caldera de Tejeda.

Other must-sees include the canyons of Macizo del Suroeste Nature Reserve, the volcanic craters of Cuenca de Tejeda Nature Reserve, and the abundant wildlife and flora of Inagua y Pajonales Nature Reserve.

Sure you might head to the Canary Islands craving some beach relaxation, but you’ll be hard-pressed to not leap from your chaise-lounge for some scenic exploration.

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Assassin’s Creed Chronicles China

June 7, 2015 by 8 Comments

I have long been a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series.  From the intricate plot weaving throughout time,  which involves the mysterious assassins in their awesome hoodies and incredible skills, to it’s incredible action adventure game play.  Throughout the games there are two factions which are warring- the assassins and the knights.  This is the overall idea behind the games, but it is so much more complex then that.  The games are so much fun to play, with each game in the series feeding into the next.  The most recent addition to the series is Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China.  This game picks up with Shao Jun, who is the last in the Chinese Assassin’s Brotherhood.  After meeting with Ezio Auditore (from previous games) she is ready to use her new Assassin’s skills and China will never be the same.

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Banana Boat For Summer Fun #BBBestSummerEver @bananaboat

June 7, 2015 by 6 Comments
Disclosure- Sponsored by BANANA BOAT®, All opinions are my own.banboat.
 A necessary part of summer is the sun of course, but with those hot days at the beach also comes the danger of skin damage and skin cancer from the sun.  The best way to fight this is with sun screen, and one of our favorites is Banana Boat®.
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 As every parent knows a good summer trip involves preparation.  Snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray ,and a towel are just some of the necessities needed for summer fun.
One fun trip we took recently was a fishing trip to a local camping spot. The prep for this trip was simple.  It was a damp morning, but it was due to clear up in the afternoon so we of course grabbed the Banana Boat® as the husband and son are super fair skinned.  We also grabbed the snacks, water bottles, and hand sanitizer.  Of course, in addition to hats and fishing gear.  Can’t fish without that!
The day started out dreary and pouring, so it was a good thing snacks were packed.  The rain cleared up, it was time for fishing so sun screen was applied and fishing commenced.  As the day progressed, the rain started up again the fishing trip had to be brought to an early end around lunch time.  The best part of this trip- not a spot of sun burn among any of us.  My son even caught a fish!  If you can call that a fish, LOL- and yes, it was put back. No one getting burned is always tricky, because my son and husband are  quite pale.  Of course, everyone can burn, but the lighter you are, the harder it can be. The day was a success with the little guy catching the only fish and everyone having a good time.
No matter you have planned this summer,  preparation and sun screen are necessities.
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Below are a few tips and tricks regarding sun screen:
Be sure to apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to you and your kids’ entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
We know family gatherings can be hosted under many different conditions-Banana Boat has some great products that offer multi-skin benefits, like water-resistance, ease of application and
comfort. For example, for families at the beach, I love their new SunComfort™ Clear UltraMist® Sunscreen it provides Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protection and water resistance, and also
allows sand to easily brush off!
Make sunscreen application fun for kids. Make up lyrics to your own melody to sing while applying sunscreen. It keeps them engaged and makes it feel like less of a chore.
Banana Boat® sun care products are tested in seven conditions
–sun, pool water, ocean water,wind, sweat, sand and extreme heat–to provide safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection for the entire family.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® . The opinions and text are all mine.

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National Donut Day

June 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own and honest.
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Now that Mother’s Day is over, its time to get ready for the next holiday. That’ s right- none other than National Donut Day, which occurs on June 6. To celebrate this wonderful and delicious holiday, be sure to grab some donuts and chow down. Everyone celebrates donut day differently, some just grab some treats, others make special meals celebrating the versatility of the round delight. Luckily for us, Entenmann’ s is celebrating too.
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YOXO Join the Makers Movement #YOXOtoys

June 4, 2015 by 6 Comments

As our little ones grow up, it seems like their toys get more and more complex.  They start with simple push and pull cars and rattles, they morph into tech and “batteries not included” before you can blink an eye.  Every so often, a new toy comes along that puts electronic toys in their place and brings play time back to its roots with pieces that fit together in a creative way and are easy to fit together.

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YOXO is a fun new toy, named after the basic shapes of their building pieces, Y’s, X’s, and O’s.  Each of these shapes have small slits or longer slits depending on the shape, to accept other shapes attaching to them.  This can create some interesting shapes and creatures, with possibilities only limited by your imagination.  Each piece is cardboard, so it is completely recyclable.  The design may be simple, but the toy set itself is quite fun.  I’m not sure if it is because of the odd shapes of the pieces or because each piece fits into the next with little effort, but we really liked messing with it.  Whatever the reason, YOXO is quite fun to play with.

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As far as the number of kits available, three are available at this point.  Doon, “Orig”, and Flye.  Orig is a rebellious robot who is the leader of the group and stands 18 inches tall.  Flye is a huge 4 foot dragonfly who has some unique oval shapes that really open up the possibilities of the set.  Last but not least is Doon, who is a dune buggy with moving wheels.  We gave Doon a try and were pleasantly surprised with how much fun it was to build and play with the set.  It kept my son and the husband busy for quite some time, so that was great for me.  I mean, them.

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“Doon is a 13-inch dune buggy kit for kids who are ready to take a ride. The 33-piece Doon kit includes everything you need to build your own recyclable YOXOmoto. Then take Doon apart and invent something new. Comes with custom moto parts, repositionable YOXO eye stickers in a sturdy box with a lid for easy storage. $19.99”

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These sets are now available at Target stores nationwide as well as YOXO kits are available at www.yoxo.com and at independent toy stores across the country.  Doon retails for $19.99, Flye retails for $24.99 and YOXObot “Orig” for $19.99.

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A Colorful, Creative Form of Healing

June 4, 2015 by 1 Comment

music art

You can find an extensive amount of information regarding the positive impact color has on physical healing and emotional well being. There’s also an abundance of information provided by qualified professionals and substantiated by a variety of assessments on the healing power of music. The Sing for Hope organization provides people the opportunity to experience both forms of healing and stress relief in an incredibly unique manner.

Artistic Pianos

Without any adornment, a piano can be described as a piece of art. It’s shape has a beauty worthy of admiration. However, when a group of artists are invited to release their creativity on the exterior surface of a piano, the result is an explosion of color that excites the eyes, lifts the spirit and invites you on a journey designed by the artist’s personal vision. Take a moment to envision a collection of colorful pianos placed in a centralized location just waiting for someone to approach them and release sounds that complement the exterior artistry, stir the soul and make the heart smile.

Healing sounds

Children have a natural sense of wonder, creativity and expectation. Unfortunately, those free-spirit ideas are often stifled by adults who weren’t allowed to express their creative side as a child or who were discouraged from nurturing optimism. An organization such as Sing for Hope provides a centralized location for people of all ages to come and enjoy and experience the positive impact music and art can have on one’s mind, body and emotions. Prior training or special talents aren’t needed to become a part of this experience. They make this experience a reality for many children and adults who otherwise would not have the opportunity to see the work of dedicated, talented artist or have a chance to bring forth musical sounds that come straight from their heart.

In an almost magical, mystical and unexplainable way, the healing power of visual art and the audible sound of music can provide stress relief, pain relief, emotional calmness and positively impact one’s world in many other ways regardless of whether you are the artist, the performer, the observer or the listener. Allowing yourself to be fully consumed in an art project or totally focused on the creation of a unique and personal musical composition can yield positive results that may far exceed your hopes or expectations.

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Visit The Bronx Zoo

June 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment

This June, The Bronx Zoo is excited to celebrate the opening of the long-anticipated Children’s Zoo. This treasured exhibit   places an emphasis on getting kids outside and involved with nature! For many it Will be the first time they encounter wild animals.  And new species range from giant anteaters to sloths  and the world’s smallest deer. There is a wonderful domestic petting zoo and as part of the celebration there will be a recycled children’s garden.

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How Do You Make Your Garden Grow children’s garden, presented by FarmON! Foundation will be by the Mouse House exhibit and will offer tons of kid-friendly events taking place every weekend. Don’t miss the special Father’s Day weekend celebration!  Starting June 8th, the garden will be open daily with all sorts of fun activities. Keep reading for details on what Bronx Zoo has to offer and check bronxzoo.com/events  for more information. 

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June 6-7: Meet Your Farmer: Seed & Soil

  • Get dirty and learn how to make your garden grow at the Bronx Zoo’s dig station.
  • Common Ground Farm will present Eat a Rainbow a hands-on discussion about why it’s important to eat a variety of colors and foods, with examples and samples.
  • Join a special butter churning demonstration and discussion on how dairy milk is transformed into cheese.
  • Join the Green Bronx Machine as they celebrate urban framing and lean about innovative ways to farm in the city

June 13-14: From Kitchen to Compost; Composting: Food Waste

  • McEnroe Organic Farm helps families learn the basics of composting their meal leftovers.
  • Meet the soil’s best friend, the earthworm, in a fun and informative activity. Also, enjoy storytime with Professor Snail and his friends and explore a worm composting bin.
  • Join the Green Bronx Machine and learn how to grow your own soil and create a small worm box.

Father’s Day weekend: June 20-21: Celebrating All-Star Dads: Healthy Food & Recipes

  • Eat Local NY presents a fermentation workshop and talks about pickling and fermentation
  • French Culinary Institute chef, Lisa Witkowski presents healthy, seasonal recipes from the garden and shows kids how to utilize nutrition-packed ingredients for on-the-go fun snacks.
  • Interactive Farm games! Have fun with dad by testing your skills at America’s favorite farm yard competition including a bean bag toss and cornhole.
  • Super Sprowtz will be onsite. Meet Roger and Colby Carrot on June 20 at 12:00-1:00pm and 2:00-3:00pm.

June 27-28: Celebrating Pollinators

  • Bee storytime from favorite author Lela Nargi
  • Fancy some honey?  The zoo will host honey tastings from Eat Local and explain the importance of pollinators
  • Play Pollinatorpalooza! Children can find their inner bee, butterfly, or hummingbird as they learn the language of the bee to get their job done. They’ll also learn simple ways to help these special animals in their very own neighborhood and become official Pollinator Protectors.

Every weekend in June will also include hands-on activities to celebrate the opening of the Bronx Zoo Children’s Zoo with craft projects at the Dancing Crane Pavilion and Re-Usable the Musical which is a one-of-a-kind show, where a young girl named Kazumi takes a musical journey to learn about protecting our animals in the wild with actions we take at home. This show teaches kids how to protect the planet using the five Rs: Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and a very special and important R: Remember.  This show occurs in the Asia Theater at 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45, & 3:30.

Here are a couple of simple and educational at-home gardening projects to try out with the little ones:

Kitchen Scrap Gardening – http://www.kidsgardening.org/node/101582

Planting a Window Box – http://www.garden.org/howtos/index.php?q=show&id=1279

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