One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Summer Fun

The Outer Banks Make a Sweet Pick for Memorial Day Travel

Are you looking to head out of town this weekend or make your family summer vacation plans? We have a sweet spot for you on the coast of North Carolina!

Big wave action on Hatteras Island this week. Mickey McCarthy photo
Big wave action on Hatteras Island this week. Mickey McCarthy photo

There’s a buzz of activity on the Outer Banks right now that is aligned to paint a picture perfect vacation for Memorial Day travelers to the OBX.

“For starters, the islands have enjoyed super sunny conditions in recent days, yet not too hot,” explains Lee Nettles, Executive Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “The weather experts are predicting gorgeous summer kick-off conditions this weekend. After the winter most of us had, we’re expecting a good crowd making their way to the North Carolina coast.”

New this summer, The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama will host character dinners on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as part of their 77th season, which begins May 30th. You can enjoy a great pre-show backstage tour and dinner, and snap some cool “selfies” with Sir Walter Raleigh and the cast. Also brand new, the Shallowbag Bay Beach Music Festival promises to be a shagging good time May 26th in downtown Manteo. Returning for a second year, Extreme Volleyball Professionals will host the Outer Banks Pro Am at Jennette’s Pier on May 31st for some great action you can watch from your beach chair. Kids will enjoy Kitty Hawk Kite’s annual Rogallo Kite Festival at Jockey’s Ridge sand dunes June 7 – 8.

“We’re looking forward to seeing our return guests and welcome the chance to show new visitors why the Outer Banks of North Carolina speaks to the soul,” says Nettles. “We actually created a new hashtag, #OuterbanksSoul, which we encourage our guests and communities to use when they post photos and comments about what they love most about the barrier islands. Our website outerbanks.org offers easy access to local social media channels and all the info you need to find and book vacation experiences.”

SeaWorld Orlando Opens Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

We are very eager to get back to Orlando to use our annual passes. We have had our annual passes for three years but have only been able to use it once in the past two years. I am going to find a way to get us down there for the summer especially with this news that was released.

seaworldorlandoantartica

SeaWorld Orlando’s all-new attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, is now open.

Only SeaWorld Orlando can fully immerse guests into the thrilling, chilling continent few will ever experience. Antarctica is a realm in SeaWorld where icebergs, snowcaps and howling winds greet guests. They’ll also meet a very special penguin named Puck, and it’s through his eyes that guests learn about penguin life and the dangers and beauty of this frozen land.

On board a first-of-its-kind trackless, all-family adventure ride, guests become one with the storyline as they follow Puck’s adventures. Each mobile simulator ride car allows guests to choose one of two levels of exploration – Wild Expedition or Mild Expedition – for various degrees of ride intensity. Designers say each version has multiple variations for a feeling of unpredictability, just like the continent of Antarctica.

L is such a huge animal lover hence the reason we have annual passes to SeaWorld Orlando. She is going to be ecstatic to see this new attraction.

Also new at Antarctica are souvenir cups created by SeaWorld and Coca-Cola®. The Cup That CaresTM is a novel reusable cup program with a twist of technology: An RFID (radio frequency identification) chip embedded in each cup interacts with software at Antarctica’s Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers to calculate CO2 and tell guests how they are being more environmentally responsible by choosing to refill and reuse. And there’s more: SeaWorld will donate $1 from each Cup That Cares purchase to the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens® Conservation Fund, a not-for-profit foundation that helps protect wildlife around the world.

Award-winning country artist Lauren Alaina recorded two songs for Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin: The song for the ride that every guest will hear when they experience the Antarctica and a special remix version called “Antarctica: One World, One Family.” Her voice is absolutely amazing and truly helps us tell the story of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin through song. What’s even “cooler” is that guests can take the music of Antarctica with them and download the remix version for FREE at SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Rayovac Summer Photo Contest

How is everyone enjoying their summer so far? Now, I know you have took tons and tons of summertime pictures! It is time to share them and win 🙂

Rayovac is hosting a Summer Photo Contest.

The Snap, Share & Win! Rayovac Summer Photo Contest will begin August 2, 2010 and will conclude on August 29, 2010.  Each week will feature a different photo theme.  Eligible contestants will be able to complete the entry form on Rayovac’s website, upload a photo and specify the theme.  Contestants may upload 1 photo each week for a maximum of 3 photos.  Once photos are posted, viewers can vote for 1 photo a day and add an unlimited number of comments.  Contestants and viewers can share the contest with their friends (eighteen years old or older) utilizing the “Invite Friends” button or by sending an email.  The photos receiving the most votes for each theme will win prizes.  Rayovac Powers Fun, have fun and be creative with your photo entries! All levels of photography welcome!

PRIZES
For each of the three themes there will be:
Grand Prize– a Digital Camera Package, complete with a Photo Printer and Rayovac Rechargeables and a Digital Photo Frame for three of the Grand Prize Winner’s friends.
Second Place Prize– Photo Printer
Runner Up Prize– Digital Photo Frame Keychain.

Phase One: Submit photo entry August 2, 2010- August 22, 2010.
(Week 1: Fun with Water Photo. Week 2: Fun Pet Photo. Week 3: Summer Fun Photo)
Phase Two: Public Vote August 2, 2010- August 29, 2010.
Phase Three: Winners Announced September 8, 2010.

Make sure to follow along at the Rayovac Fan Page so you will be up to date with all the weekly themes. If you would like to share this photo contest with all your friends and family, you can get the photo widget right here and start sharing immediately.

Good Luck and Let’s start sharing all those fun summer memories!

P.S. Full Disclosure: The first 50 bloggers to promote the Rayovac Summer Photo Contest won a prize from Rayovac.

Enjoying Summer Nights With Your Family

Summer is a special time as there are more daytime hours, sun, warm air and just that extra spark in the air. I love creating fun summertime memories with my girls that I hope they will remember for years and years to come. I thought I would share some with you to give you some extra fun ideas for these warm summer nights.

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1. Make homemade ice cream. My girls love this and enjoy helping add the ingredients into the machine. We will sit and just laugh at the girls dancing, singing, and etc. and then all enjoy a delicious bowl of ice cream once it is done.

2. Catching lightning bugs. Once the sun sets these little lights start showing up in our yard ;). It’s fun to go throughout the yard with the girls and see who can catch the most lightning bugs.

3. Bonfire. Get your chairs out in a circle. Gather some wood and create a bonfire. Let the kids roast marshmallows or hot dogs and just sit and listen to your child’s stories. Believe me they have some funny tales :).

4. Take a walk or bicycle through the neighborhood. Kids love getting outside so take time to just take a stroll or a bike ride and enjoy the summer air.

5. Water Balloons. Fill up several water balloons and just get wet! Do parents vs. kids and have a blast to see who can break the most balloons or get the most wet.

There you go… easy fun family times that will create lasting memories! What does your family do on these warm summer nights? Add your ideas below.

Sports Diva is in the House

Summer sports have come to an end. I cannot believe summer is already halfway over. Where has the time gone? I do have to report on our Sports Diva M. She really rocked the sports this summer. I can definitely tell she is going to take after her Mommy 😉 and her Yay-Yay.

Softball is definitely a generation sport that I am so proud to say that M is definitely going to continue on the legacy in the family. She absolutely loved and kicked tale in her first year of playing softball. This will be her sport of choice I am safe to say as she was always eager to get out there every time it was game time. I am proud of you girl!

Softball 2010

Another sport that she has been involved in a little over 2 years is soccer. She totally is very involved in this sport but I really believe this is going to be her “for fun” sport as she does not treat it as competitively as softball. It is always still so much fun to go and watch her and see the look on her face when she is determined that she is going to kick a goal. Great job on a another wonderful season M!

Soccer Summer 2010

I love seeing M so excited and being such a go-getter in sports. I really want to keep the girls active and sports is such a great way to do that. I know sports is not for everyone so I am just following M’s lead on sports but so far she is rocking the sports in this household :).

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