Florida » Frugal and Fun Mom/ Mom Blog, Reviews, Giveaways, Family Fun

The 2012 South Florida Speaking of Women’s Health Event! A Great Event That Gave Me Insight Into Good Health!

Dec 112012

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

I was fortunate enough to get another opportunity to attend a Speaking of Women’s Health Event this year in South Florida. This year’s theme was “Share Good Health” and again the proceeds benefited the Manatee Memorial Foundation Inc. which serves my local community.

Chef Tim Schoonmaker

With 16 breakout sessions, topics included heart health, stress and anxiety, hormones, breastfeeding, skin health, healthy eating, and financial health. I attended a cooking demonstration with Chef Tim Schoonmaker called “Cooking with Fresh Herbs, Healthy Oils, and Lean Meats”.

Chef Tim did an excellent job showing some healthy alternatives for stuffing, ways to prepare poultry, and he also made a delicious granola for everyone to sample. What was awesome is the fact that these were all recipes that could easily be prepared at home. I am still thinking about that granola.

Corista Williams, MBA, RD, LDN

I also attended a session called “Real Weight Loss Solutions for Women” presented by Corista Williams, MBA, RD, LDN. This was an excellent presentation and extremely informative. The presenter shared some great information on the correct ways to promote healthy weight loss, and also opened my eyes to what proper portions are for food. Let’s just say I need to cut back a little.

Maureen Groer, RN, PhD, FAAN

The last break out session I attended was “How Breastfeeding Protects Women’s Health Throughout the Lifespan”, presented by Maureen Groer, RN, PhD, FAAN. This happens to be a subject that is near and dear to me since I am breastfeeding. The information provided just continued to reinforce the benefits of breastfeeding, but it also enlightened me on all of the individual benefits I was getting, and I would be reaping as I got older.

My blood pressure screening.

In addition to break out sessions, there were Yoga presentations and Health screenings throughout the day. Attendees also had an opportunity to shop from an unique group of vendors at the “Gift Bazaar.” Items for sale included jewelry, purses, accessories, and other gifts. I got to check out the vendors and get my blood pressure checked at one of the Health Screenings.

Here are the goodies!

Since I had a VIP ticket I got to enjoy the luncheon, fashion show, and picked up a few goodies to take home as well. I missed out on the Keynote Speaker, Maureen Whelihan, MD, but I heard it was extremely entertaining.

Make sure you mark your calendars, because next year’s event in South Florida is scheduled for November 16, 2013. For more details, visit manateememorial.com. Not in this area? Speaking of Women’s Health events are held nationwide.

To find an event near you visit speakingofwomenshealth.com

FFM

Frugal and Fun Mom did not receive compensation for this post but was provided a free VIP ticket to the Speaking of Women’s Health event. The opinions expressed in this post are that of my own.

The Tenth Annual Speaking of Women’s Health Conference in South Florida is Set for Saturday November 10, 2012!

Nov 052012

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

The Tenth Annual Speaking of Women’s Health Conference in South Florida is set for Saturday November 10, 2012!

Manatee/Sarasota’s premiere women’s health event returns for a tenth year on Saturday, November 10 from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at the Bradenton Area Convention Center (formerly the Manatee Convention Center) One Haben Boulevard, Palmetto, FL. Tickets are $5 for general admission and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

The theme for 2012 is “Share Good Health”. Women will have the opportunity to hear from more than sixteen experts on important health and well-being topics.

Breakout session topics include heart health, stress and anxiety, hormones, breastfeeding, skin health, healthy eating, and financial health. They will also have yoga presentation during the day. Health screenings will include heart health, vision, hearing, grip plus much more. Attendees will also have an opportunity to shop items from a unique group of vendors at the “Gift Bazaar.” Items for sale include a jewelry, purses, accessories, and other gifts.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend last years event and had a blast. CLICK HERE-->Speaking of Women’s Health Event 2011, I Got Tips on How To Be Strong, Healthy, and How To Be In Charge to check it out!

For more information about the event, visit manateememorial.com. To purchase advanced tickets or to get a detailed schedule of events call (941)745-7545.

FFM

Frugal and Fun Mom did not receive compensation for this post but was provided a free VIP ticket to the Speaking of Women’s Health event. The opinions expressed in this post are that of my own.

Michael Angelo’s Italian Frozen Meals Review and Giveaway! The Founders Will Be Coming To Florida This October for Cooking Classes!

Oct 152012

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

Thanks to Michael Angelo’s, I was sent FREE product coupons to try and review their Italian Frozen Meals here on Frugal and Fun Mom.

This was awesome because I was able to take a meal vacation last week. Now, I call it a meal vacation for 2 reasons. First, all I had to do for dinner 3 nights was pop a meal in the microwave or oven, and then prepare veggies. Second, I got to try some delicious meals whose inspiration comes straight from Italy.

Shrimp Scampi

Michael Angelo’s is a family owned and operated business that has been around for 30 years. The founders Michael Angelo and his mother Sara have created home-style Italian Dishes that are made from fresh ingredients and contain no preservatives. As Michael says, “If you can’t find it in Mom’s kitchen, we won’t use it in our food.” These small batch meals are then flash-frozen and shipped directly to local grocers, natural food stores, and warehouse clubs. Meals can either be prepared in the microwave or in the oven.

Shrimp Scampi how it appears out of the box.

Now my husband happens to be Italian, so we tend to eat a lot of pasta anyway. I was interested to see how he and the kids would react to the different meal creations. Individually, I tried the single serve Chicken Parmesan. It is made with imported cheeses , vine-ripened tomatoes, and White Meat Chicken Breast. It was delicious!

Chicken Parmesan

As a family, we tried the Shrimp Scampi, Meat Lasagna, and Baked Ziti & Meatballs. The Shrimp Scampi is made with a Heirloom Garlic-Butter Sauce that has a sweetness to it. I thought it tasted wonderful however, Hubby said it was really rich and the kids said it was spicy. So, this might have to be a future treat just for me.

As for the Meat Lasagna and Baked Ziti & Meatballs, they were both hits with my entire family. These meals are made with imported cheese and vine-ripened tomatoes.

To learn more about Michael Angelo’s and their various dishes, visit their website at michaelangelos.com. You can also check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/michaelangelos or Twitter at @Michael_Angelos.

Baked Ziti & Meatballs

Want to learn how to cook Italian from the experts?

Michael and Sara will sharing the cooking secrets that Sara learned from her Sicilian grandmother, Foti, at an upcoming Publix Apron’s Cooking School series in Central Florida. They will be creating a full Italian holiday meal, complete with an appetizer, pasta dish, meat dish and a dessert, and guests get to sample each delicious creation.

The Tampa Publix cooking class is Thursday, October 18, and the Sarasota Publix cooking class is Friday, October 19. Advanced registration is available online. Check out what is on the menu below!

Michael Angelo’s Publix Apron’s Cooking School Menu

o Appetizer – Caprese Stacker

§ Toasted crostini, grilled eggplant with basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella seasoned with Italian style dressing.

o Primi Piatti – Rigatoni Pasta alla Norma

§ Zesty tomato sauce with roasted eggplant, capers, kalamata olives, calabrian chili peppers and al’dente rigatoni pasta topped with ricotta salata and imported Romano cheese.

o Secondi Piatti – Beef Tenderloin Ripieni

§ Beef loin filled with sautéed spinach, prosciutto, imported Romano cheese and pine nuts, seasoned with Tuscan-style fresh herbs and served with roasted vegetables and red wine sauce

o Dolce – Tiramisu

§ Tiramisu hand-dipped in Belgium dark chocolate, garnished with zabaglione, raspberries and blackberries.

Giveaway Details:

And, thanks to Michael Angelo’s, (1) one lucky Frugal and Fun Mom Reader will WIN a Prize Pack with 6 Coupons For FREE Michael Angelo’s Meals! This includes 3 single-serve and 3 family-serve meals. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

Please allow a moment for the form to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FFM

Frugal and Fun Mom did not receive compensation for this review but was provided Free Michael Angelo’s Product Coupons to facilitate this post. Details about the product were provided by a PR agency representing the company. The opinions expressed in this review are that of my own.

60-minutes FREE Arcade Time With Purchase of Armband at Orlando Florida Fun Spot Attractions! Coupon Is A $9.95 Value!

Jul 222012

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

Planning a trip to the Orlando Florida area anytime soon? Check out this offer from Fun Spot Attractions!

Receive 60-minutes in the arcade FREE with the purchase of an armband ($9.95 value).

CLICK HERE–> Fun Spot Attractions Special Offer for Orlando Florida Location to print your coupon and to visit their website. Offer good through December 24, 2012.

I just checked out some reviews on-line, and it looks like this place is a ton of fun!

Fun Spot Attractions are true Family parks. They are locally owned and operated and privately held by the Arie Family. This family has created an environment that is a Safe – Clean – Fun – Park for all ages.

Fun Spot Orlando is 4.7 acres of fun and boosts 17 attractions, including four innovative multi-level go-kart tracks, seven thrill rides and six kiddie rides. A state-of-the-art arcade and snack bar is located inside a 10,000 square foot building on site. Open year round – rain or shine.

If you are heading that way, enjoy your trip and discount!

FFM

By posting this offer, my family will be receiving an all day armband to attend one of the Fun Spot locations in Orlando or Kissimmee Florida. Information and coupon provided by USFamilyGuide.com.

We Finally Got Our FREE Preschool Passes to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld! Florida Residents Don’t Delay!

Feb 222012

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

We made it!

I have to admit, I was getting a little worried, my son turns 6 in a couple weeks, and that is the cut off to get the FREE Preschool Pass to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld for Florida Residents. Once we have the pass, we are set till the end of the year, but getting there was another issue.

Between parties, kids being sick, me being sick, it seemed like we were not going to make the deadline. We even attempted to go last Friday, but it rained as soon as we got there, so I told my son we would head up after school to try to get it again.

We made it today, with time to spare. We got into the park around 4:30, had some French Fries, refilled our cup from years past, (discounted refills), and walked around the park. My son even got to ride a couple rides.

I am so glad that is over.

If you are thinking about taking advantage of this offer, here is a link to frequently asked questions Busch Gardens Preschool Pass Frequently Asked Questions. To get your pass, visit Busch Gardens Tampa. Offer only available for a limited time.

At Home Moma

Fun Times at the Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival!

Oct 272011

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

This past weekend, we took the kiddos to the Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival located in Bradenton, Florida. Of course we had a good time (we normally do), and I was happy because I got great pictures of the kids with the pumpkins.

As we arrived, they had an airplane writing the name of the event in the sky. The kids thought this was pretty awesome. Later, they had an air show as well.

What is really neat at the event, is they have a ton of vendors that have hand crafted items. I was able to pick up a couple of Halloween related bows for my daughter and my son got a Temporary Tattoo.

We then took the kids over to the Petting Zoo area and they got to feed goats, pigs, chickens, llamas, and a deer. (and they provided anti-bacterial soap as well)

We were also able to check out the delicious food which included Bar-B-Que, Pretzels, Pumpkin Pie, plenty of fried desserts, and of course my favorite, Italian Sausage.

The main event for my kids however was riding the train made of plastic barrels. The kids loved this. They had so much more to do at this event, (including pony rides, corn maze, and a bounce house) but we just did not have enough time to do it all.

For more information about the Hunsader Farm Pumpkin Festival visit their website at hunsaderfarms.com

FFM

Our Day Out With Thomas The Train! It Was So Much Fun!

Apr 062011

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

The Family Riding Thomas!

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to attend the “Day Out With Thomas” Event, Compliments of US Family Guide and the “Day Out With Thomas” Marketing Group. (Thanks Kelly and James!) We really had an awesome time and enjoyed ourselves.

We attended the event on Sunday April 3, 2011 at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, Florida.

My husband and I decided not to tell the kids that we were going to this because we wanted it to be a surprise. Well, they were so excited when they realized that they were going to ride Thomas the Train!

When we got there, we were given a card with stations on it, and if we filled the card with stamps from each station, the kids would get a prize at the end ( I won’t ruin the surprise though). After we checked in, we went straight to the train and boarded within a few minutes. I was really surprised at how efficient this was. With two kids under 6, efficiency is very important.

My son got to take a picture with a really nice volunteer dressed in Railroad Attire before we boarded the train. My daughter was so excited to be riding Thomas, she was grinning from ear to ear.

The train ride lasted about 25 minutes and before it ended, one of the volunteers gave the kids a certificate that said they were Junior Engineers. After we finished our train ride, we checked out the museum part of the event. It was neat to take a trip back in Railroad history.

After that, the kids had train tattoos put on and then played with Mega Bloks.

Then, my son got his face painted like Spider-man.

We decided to wait to see Thomas after we had done all these things, because we knew that we would have to wait in line right after we got back from our train ride. As soon as we saw the train coming back from another trip, we went ahead and got in line to take pictures with Thomas. The timing was perfect.

This was truly a jam packed fun event and we ended it with the kids riding a little miniature train. However, we still didn’t get a chance to do everything.

The kids with their certificates.

Special Note: If you are planning on making a trip to see Thomas, make sure you bring some cash for food and beverages since they are not provided for free with admission.

Details about the event:

Kids and their families get to enjoy a 25-minute ride with Thomas!

In addition to a ride with Thomas, kids and their families will get to enjoy musical children’s entertainment and magic shows. There is also a giant slide, bouncy castle, ball pit and more for the kids to play on. Also, kids can play miniature golf, get Thomas & Friends temporary tattoos and take a ride on a miniature train.

Don’t forget to head over to Imagination Station where kids can make arts and crafts, color Thomas pictures, play with Thomas battery-operated trains, RC2 wooden engines and MegaBloks. Kids get to take their pictures with Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas the Tank Engine. Source US Family Guide

For Locations, Dates, and to purchase your tickets, CLICK HERE .

I hope you enjoy your day out with Thomas!

At Home Moma

At Home Moma was not paid for this blog review post, but was provided 4 complimentary tickets to the Day Out With Thomas Leader of the Track Tour 2011 from US Family Guide.

Our Sunken Gardens Trip in St. Petersburg, Florida!

Jan 252011

Posts may contain affiliate links, for details visit Site Disclosure.

Like this post? Make sure you Share it or Pin-it!

A couple months back I took advantage of a Groupon Promotion for Sunken Gardens.

Sunken Gardens is a botanical paradise located in St. Petersburg, Florida. As St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, this 100 year old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. Source StPete.org

I was able to purchase a family membership through Groupon to Sunken Gardens for half the regular price. What was really great about this pass was that it has reciprocity at over 200 Botanical Gardens across the country plus many additional benefits such as discounts to gift shops and discounts on workshops.

Well the kiddos and I went last week and had absolutely no problem redeeming our certificate from Groupon. We then took a nice leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens. What was nice is Sunken Gardens is next door to a children’s museum called Great Explorations that we also have a membership as well, so we were able to visit both places. Both attractions are conveniently located near a McDonalds and a Panera Bread, so you can make a fun day of it and have a bite to eat. We took advantage of the $1.99 Happy Meals on Tuesday at McDonalds.

Do you use Groupon? They offer great deals specific to your areas. If not, check them out at my referral link: CLICK for Groupon Deals in Your Area.

At Home Moma