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This past weekend we went on our very first “Santa Train” as a family! My husband and I both had Santa train experiences as children and were excited to finally have Haylie have that same memory. Every Christmas season I’m always reminded m about Santa trains too late. I will spot cute pictures, go try and book and sold out. This year I actually spotted a Facebook ad a few weeks before the excursion & booked my little family a table. The best part?!? This train was only an hour away. Location50 Commercial Street, Gowanda, New York 14070, l 716-532-5242 ActivitiesWhen you first arrive & check in, you can proceed to a table and write a letter to Santa. They have pens & paper ready for your kids to write out those lists. Then while on board there will be snacks such as chips and Candy. Then non-alcoholic beverages all for purchase. Santa & his elves will then make their grand entrance. Then be prepared to be entertained with a few fun games like guessing how many chocolate kisses are in a jar to win a prize all while social distancing. Santa ClausSanta Claus will be present on board, while social distancing mask and all. He does have gifts for all good boys and girls! My daughter received a Charlie Brown mug that you color that has a train on it!! Pretty cool since we were on a train. However, no sitting on Santa’s lap. My tip would be to have the kids sit on the outside when you spit Santa walking so you can get a cute photo with Santa & your kid in the shot TimesSaturday & Sundays in December 11am 12:30pm 2pm 3:30pm Price• $19 Adults
Ages 13-61 • $15 Children Ages 3-12 • $17 Seniors Ages 62+ • Free Infants Ages 2 and Under • $75 Table For 4 People All Ages • Seats 1-4 People • Price per Table The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Day Trip Car Must Haves Checklist10/21/2020 This post was sponsored by Erie Insurance as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Ahhhh 2020! This year has definitely been a unique one that’s for sure. With the world in such an unsure place, those of us with severe cases of wanderlust have had to trade in those epic cross country road trips with simple day trips within driving distance of home sweet home to abide by state rules and regulations. Just because you must stay somewhat local, doesn’t mean the travel fun has to end! You would be shocked at all the day trips you can find on the web! For example, we found a cute animal sanctuary drive through petting zoo just an hour and a half away! Perfect social distancing activity since we didn’t even need to leave our vehicle! With our Erie Auto Insurance on hand, a full tank of gas & our handy dandy Day Trip Checklist goodies, we were ready for a full day of family fun! Erie Auto InsuranceErie Insurance operates in 12 states including D.C! So those of you local readers living in New York & Pennsylvania, you’re in luck! You can take advantage of one of the 6+ million insurance policies for auto, home and business! Safe to say there is definitely a policy right for you and your family. National SurveyErie Insurance is extremely passionate about taking care of their customers and ALL drivers! They always motivate all drivers to make the most of all the safety features in the car. They commission national surveys to draw the driver’s attention towards the safety features in the car and educate them about how important it is to use them while driving!!! Perfect for all of us Day Trip enthusiasts! Auto Safety FeaturesIf you have purchased your family vehicle within the last four years, you’ve probably noticed several totally new features designed to help protect your family on the open roads!! Thanks to advanced engineering and technology, I’m happy to report that today’s cars are safer than ever!! However, a national survey by Erie Insurance found that not everyone is taking advantage of these new safety features. The two features drivers were most likely to disable were actually ones designed to enhance their comfort and convenience. adaptive cruise control ~ A whopping 30% of drivers surveyed!!! The largest percentage!!! Claimed they had disabled adaptive cruise control, which keeps a vehicle a specific distance from the car in front of it by applying the brakes if it gets too close. The most cited reason for disabling this feature was, “I want to control the vehicle, not have the vehicle control itself.” lane keeping assist ~ Almost a quarter of drivers (23%) said they turned off lane keeping assist which makes it the second most disabled feature! Lane keeping assist, which helps prevent the car from straying across lane markings by automatically making light braking or minor steering adjustments was claimed to be disabled due to drivers finding the feature “annoying” or “distracting”. Jon Bloom, vice president of personal auto at ERIE Auto Insurance, said automakers are always working to refine and improve features. However, in some cases, drivers just need to learn how the feature works and get used to it. “Ideally as features improve and drivers get more comfortable with them, using them will become second-nature the way seatbelts are today,” Bloom said. “The payoff could be huge in terms of reducing crashes and saving lives.” So the next time you’re on the market for a new car, will you want a vehicle with any of these features? Many survey respondents still say “yes.” Free Checklist PrintableOnce your all comfortable with your auto safety features and picked out that perfect Erie Auto Insurance plan, make sure to print out your very own Day Trip Checklist Printable to make sure your next day trip goes beyond smoothly!!! ![]()
Let’s Chat!Do you have any day trips planned?!
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Niagara Falls USA Street Art10/6/2020 I’m such a sucker for street art!!!!! I always spot all the Instagram girls posting all these fabulous mural shots and I’m always low key jealous since I live in a town with zero!!! I actually cannot think of a spot in my entire county that has a badass mural somewhere :( So whenever I travel outside of my little bubble I’m always googling awesome walls to snap a few pics in front of. On our latest trip up to Niagara Falls to ride the famous Jetboats, hence the reason I’m dressed like a slob! I was on my way to get soaked cruising the Niagara River rapids, I just had to check out any street art I could find. After a little bit on Instagram stalking, I found two walls to share with y’all! Let’s Fall In LoveI will start with my favorite of the two walls I found! The Lets Fall In Love mural!!! So pretty and bright. I wish I had a fabulous bright colored dress on to complement the beauty of this wall!!! 101 Old Falls Street Niagara Falls, NY 14303 The BeatlesAny Beatles fans out there?!?! Then you will
absolutely love this mural located right outside of the Hard Rock Cafe! Super easy to find since it’s literally across the street from the entrance of the falls!!! You don’t have to go far out of the way for this epic photo. 333 Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Pumpkintown ~ Jamestown, NY10/4/2020 ![]() Is it really fall if you don’t hit up a pumpkin patch with the family?!?! That’s exactly what we did last weekend since I’m all about the fall basic girl activities! There has been a local pumpkin patch here in Jamestown, NY for about a year or two now, but we usually make the trek up to Buffalo to The Great Pumpkin Farm since it’s been our yearly tradition. With covid restrictions galore, we decided to hit up the local patch and shockingly we had a pretty festive time. PumpkintownLocated in Busti, NY (Jamestown), this patch is a smaller sized property. Honestly, smaller patches are PERFECT for super little ones. Not overwhelming and fears of your kiddo getting lost are very slim. I would say you could easily do all of the activities this patch has to offer in about an hour, but I would recommend spending a few hours here to truly enjoy it. There is a cow train, bouncy pillow, petting zoo, side, hayride, mining, photo-ops and so much more. Location3435 Baker Street Extension Busti, NY 14701 HoursSaturday’s & Sunday’s 10am-6pm PriceAdmission is $10 for ages 3 and up. Kids 2 and under are free. Adults 65+ are $5. All veterans and active military with ID are always free
Let's Chat!Have you visited a pumpkin patch this year?
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Jellystone Western New York REVIEW8/24/2020 The post y’all have been waiting for!!!! I was a planning on waiting a day or two since I just posted our Jellystone Premiere Villa 2 Bedroom review, but holy smokes!!!It’s crazy! I love my instagram the most when I travel because my notifications literally go off the hook!!! Nothing makes me feel better about the things I share as my fellow travel friends blowing up my feed!!!!! It’s totally awesome!!! But honestly I just wasn’t really expecting THAT with Jellystone. Not because Jellystones not a totally fabulous camping spot, but because I feel like everyone has been this summer and I was probably the last one to make the Jellystone WNY voyage lol... with all of the crazy travel restrictions due to covid, places like Jellystone & Splash Lagoon have been the IT staycation spots for Western New Yorkers! Boy was I wrong though! My notifications were going off like I was at Beaches Turks & Caicos or some other exotic location. Who knew a campground an hour and a half away from home sweet home would have fellow Western New Yorkers so intrigued!!! Face MasksBefore I dive into all of the fun stuff, I figured I would cover Jellystone Covid regulations first! Hopefully if you stumble upon this post summer 2021, this whole section will be null in void and covid will be long behind us. Since we are still living in covid hell. Yes! I said what I said lol... Here is the regulation tea! I was asked multiple times about face mask policies and how strict Jellystone was with enforcing them. The Jellystone Java, NY location policies are legit like every other spot in New York State in stage 4! Face masks must be worn inside restaurants, stores & in and out of recreation areas. You can remove masks once seated or in the water. No need to wear a mask at your own campsite either. This was a ridiculous rumor going around and I was happy to clear that up to several awesome insta followers of mine. As long as you can stay 6ft away, you can be mask free around the resort since it is outdoors! Jellystone also sanitizes the pool and beach area once an hour. So plan on having your family leave both areas during that time. Good news is sanitation only takes like 10 minutes, so just run to your campsite. Use the restroom or grab a snack and head on back for more fun! LocationJellystone Western New York is located in Java, NY. Wyoming County! If you’re in Chautauqua County like myself. Basically drive through Ellicottville and hit up some of the county roads out that directions and you will be there lol.... If you’re looking for a little adventure outside of Jellystone, Letchworth State Park is a few miles away! Makes a good day trip when you leave the resort! CabinsWe had the pleasure of calling a Premium Villa 2 Bedroom our home while at Jellystone WNY! A master bedroom, bunk bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen. Sleeps 1-7 according to the Jellystone website. The cabins also have heat and ac which is always nice in New York since who knows what type of weather the weather gods will be gracing us with! I have a full review on the cabins here if you want a more detailed review! Cabin YardEach campsite includes a picnic table, fire circle & charcoal grill. The fire circle definitely was the hot spot for our crew and got a ton of use on our trip!!! It was also nice not to have to lug a grill with us! ActivitiesSo many activities for kiddos!!!! So many that it will be impossible to participate in them all! Always a great problem to have on any adventure!!! Jellystone had chalk art contests! Basketball with Yogi Bear himself! Hide & seek with Cindy bear! We even spotted Boo Boo Bear cruising around to campsites to take photos with the kiddos!!! There was even ice cream being delivered to campsites one evening!!! I would say if you have a kiddo 6-10, they will be so busy hanging out at the various activities & making new friends that they will literally never be bored! I can’t wait for my daughter to be a tad bit older so she can actually participate in more of the activities!! Bounce PadTell me the bounce pad isn’t the coolest thing you have ever seen?!?! I would have loved this thing when I was a kid. Heck, I wish there wasn’t a line of kiddos behind us so I could have taken a turn!!!! Zero additional costs too which makes it even better!!! Water SportsKayaks, canoes, paddle boards, the list goes on! The best part?!? Included with your reservation so there is zero additional costs! We definitely took advantage and tried out all of the water sports. Due to covid they do need to sanitize the life jackets in between use, so you might have to wait a tad bit longer, but better safe than sorry right?!? You can also just bring your own if you happen to own life jackets to avoid any waiting! Water ParkI’m pretty sure the water park is the main reason so many western New York families choose Jellystone as a staycation spot! With many lifeguards and tables spread out, it’s safe to say we had a blast! Inflatable ParkThe Jellystone inflatable park was our only disappointment. Not because it’s not totally awesome!!! It’s the most epic thing EVER!!! But, due to covid, you have to go down to the beach the day you want to play and make a reservation for your family at 8am! The whole campground heads down there and you can only make a reservation the day of, so we did not get to enjoy the epicness that is the inflatable park. I am told my veteran Jellystone campers that this is 100% a covid policy due to sanitizing in between families AND that regulations will only permit one family at a time out on the inflatables. Hopefully next year things will be back to normal and everyone can use the inflatable park and not just the ones that ran to the beach the fastest at 8am lol.... Snack & Gift ShopForget something at home?!? Need more charcoal?!? More firewood?!? Spending too much time at the pool so you don’t feel like making lunch?!? Good news is there is a delicious snack bar that serves everything from quesadillas, pizza, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, wraps, sandwiches, the list goes on! You can even hit up the Jellystone website and order your food online and have the food delivered right to you! You can also have firewood delivered to your campsite via the Jellystone website. Y’all do not know how handy that little feature is! When you have been drinking around the fire and realize you’re on your last log, just grab your phone and order some wood!!! The gift shop also had all the camping necessities one may have forgotten at home along with basic food items like milk, chips, candy, soda, juice! OpinionI’m pretty sure y’all can tell that my family had one heck of a time!!!! My hubby is the anti camper of the family. That’s right! Y’all thought I was the high maintenance one and it’s the other way around lol.... I crave adventure and he craves, well the opposite lol....and I can happily report that he is so in love with Jellystone!!! That’s how fun Jellystone is even for non camping folks! So much to do that everyone can find an activity to engage in!!
However, if you are renting a cabin, it can get a tad bit pricy, BUT the cabins sleep so many and include all of the amenities! If you go halves with another family, the prices are no different than a single hotel room! The campground was pretty well maintained too. This was my biggest concern and I am pleased to report that everything was clean! No trash laying around. Nothing broken just sitting there. I feel like Jellystone takes good care of the place. Definitely not a jumkie campground!! Pets are also permitted which I thought was pretty sweet! They even have a dog park!!! Love that furbabies can join in on the fun! I will recommend however bringing a wagon or renting a golf cart while at Jellystone. Since we aren’t camping regulars, I had no idea golf carts are even a thing at camp grounds. I guess most camp grounds rent them and I was so bummed I was left out of this little detail! I will definitely be renting one next time. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for a golf cart, bring a wagon for the little ones so you aren’t carrying them all over the resort! You will thank me later for this little tip. Will we be back?!?! You best believe it!!!! I really hope to make Jellystone a yearly thing since both my hubby and daughter had a blast! We spend several days at the resort and didn’t even come close to doing everything, so there is so much more for us to explore in the future! So happy we have such a fun campground here in Western New York! The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Jellystone WNY ~ Premium Villa8/23/2020 Jellystone WNY cabin rentals!!!!! I thought I would start with this post out of the several I will have up for y’all this week from our latest camping trip because omg! When I went to google cabins before our stay, ahhhhh! I couldn’t find any info besides stock photos on the Jellystone website and random opinions on Yelp! Considering how popular this Western New York camping resort is for families, I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a single review with actual photos to be found. I love camping, but I’m definitely a girly girl when it comes to camping! Cabins & RV’s are totally my thing. As long as I have access to a bathroom and an actual bed, I’m good! Bring on all the dirt and mud because I can just go and shower later in the comfort of my own bathroom lol.... So when it came to cabin rentals at Jellystone Western New York, I knew I needed a functioning bathroom & a bed to sleep in! So figured I would give you a Premium Villa 2 Bedroom tour so you other girly girl campers out there won’t be walking into a surprise! Premium Villa 2 BedroomThe outside of the cabins reminds me of one of those trendy tiny houses! The best part I would have to say is the screened porch! It didn’t rain during our trip THANK GOODNESS!!! But, if it were to sprinkle, you could still enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your own screened patio away from all of the mosquitoes!!! Each campsite comes with a picnic table, charcoal grill and fire circle. I’m all about cooking via campfire and hubby was all about using his smoker is just had to bring with us, so we did not use the charcoal grill. The fire circle & picnic table definitely got lots of use! There were plenty of trees as well, so I was sort of bummed I didn’t bring a hammock! Living RoomThe living room features a flat screen tv with basic cable & I mean basic basic! I’m not a big TV person. I very rarely watch the thing, but our last night Hubby did turn the tv on to catch some basketball highlights while we packed up the place and it was a fail since there weren’t any channels lol.... the TV does have a DVD player though, so if you are camping with kids, bring DVD’s just in case it rains. You can have a movie night. The couch is a pleather material which was PERFECT! If you happen to get mud on the thing, just wipe it right up! There is also a dining table, but honestly we ate every meal outside so we did not sit there at all. KitchenI was actually super impressed with the kitchen!!! Silverware, plates, cups! All there!!! There was also a toaster oven, coffee maker, 2 burner stove, microwave and full sized refrigerator. While we did do 95% of our cooking outdoors, it was nice knowing we had a kitchen for emergencies. Master BedroomThe master bedroom featured a queen sized bed, wardrobe closet and a flat screen tv! You do need to supply your own bedding, which we did! I just snapped these photos before anyone lugged any luggage in so my photos looked clean & organized lol.... Bedroom TwoBedroom Two featured a set of bunk beds! One full sized bed on the bottom and one twin sized bed on the top. No tv in this room or wardrobe, but there are two storage draws on the bottom of the bed for clothing! BathroomAhhhh the bathroom!!!! The best thing a camper can have! It’s just your basic bathroom with a tub, sink & toilet, but basic is equivalent to gold in the great outdoors! OpinionHonestly, I was impressed with the cabin! I was super worried the Premium Villa wouldn’t be that premium. Would it be really old inside?!? Not updated?! Super dirty from many campers going in and out?!?! I’m here to say I was worried about nothing!!!. Our cabin looked relatively new! Everything was ridiculously clean! Even the refrigerator which made me happy since even mini refrigerators in hotels have a habit of being gross sometimes.
The cabin smelled like straight up wood, which makes sense since the whole place is paneled with real wood. Definitely gave the cabin a super woodsy vibe which I loved. However, Jellystone claims this cabin can sleep up to 7 people. I will honestly say that might be a stretch. Two in the master. 2 in the second bedroom and I would say one on the couch. You could squeeze two kids on the full sized bed in the second bedroom, but I would say if everyone wants to sleep comfy, I would say 5 comfy. 6 squeezing. Maybe 7 if you have a baby in a pack & play lol.... Would I stay in a Premium Villa again?!! Absolutely!!!! The cabin was everything I was hoping it would be. A clean place to reside after our outdoor daily adventures! The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Sunflowers Warren Pennsylvania8/11/2020 Y’all aren’t seeing things!!!! Sunflowers in Warren, PA! No more driving all the way to Buffalo for those sun-tastic photos!!! Literally a 20 minute drive from my home in Jamestown.I couldn’t be more happy about this hidden gem. While this field might not offer the same entertainment as Sunflowers of Sanborn, this field is decent sized AND located on a super cute farm in Warren, PA! You will definitely get those same fabulous shots a short drive away. PriceField is free. Flowers are $1 a stem or 12 for $10. Fresh picked daily. HoursSunday 9am to 1 pm 6pm to 9pm Monday thru Friday Location1479 East 5th Ave. Warren, PA (8/10 of a mile past the Warren high school on the left) Let’s Chat!Have you had the chance to visit a sunflower field?
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Splash Lagoon ~ Covid Safe?7/26/2020 We just returned from a fabulous staycation weekend at Splash Lagoon located a whole 45 minutes away in Erie, Pennsylvania! That’s right!!! It doesn’t get anymore staycation than that!!! Our Splash Lagoon getaway was actually the very first time we have “traveled” anywhere since our last Disney Trip in February due to covid travel restrictions. We were itching for a getaway, but with pretty much every state on the New York travel ban list, our kid-friendly options were pretty slim. Did we feel safe with all of the rules and regulations?!? What were the rules enforced?!? These were the questions I was flooded with on the gram so I figured I would write EVERYTHING out in one spot for y’all!!!! Mask PolicyI think it’s safe to say we all have a love/hate relationship with the damn things! Splash Lagoon is located in Pennsylvania, so they follow the Pennsylvania mask guidelines. You must wear a mask to enter the park. They actually have a mask check at the door. Forgot you mask? No problem! They have a box of paper masks at the door and the attendant will give you one if you are in need. Once inside, you can remove your mask when in the actual water park. You do not need wear the mask on any slides. You do however need your mask if you plan on ordering food. Playing any arcade games or decide to do any shopping. Basically if you’re not in the water or walking around the actual waterpark between attractions or chasing kids, you need that mask on. Crowd SizeSplash Lagoon is running at half capacity That number still sounds large until you actually show up to the park. We arrived on a Saturday. A hotel is sold out Saturday so no day passes available and I was shocked at how little people half compacity actually was. It was literally a theme park dream come true. Shortest lines ever!!!! When we arrived at 11am (opening) there was a line out the door (above). I was like omg! What did we get ourselves into!!?! But then quickly realized that the line was simply a mask check! Once inside, the waterpark was not crowded at all. Each attraction has a limit. The wave pool was 103 guests. Basketball hoops, 34 guests. The lifeguards were keeping track too. While the wave pool never neared 103 people while we were there, the basketball hoops did later in the afternoon and they were turning kids away. Security is also present. I spotted several guards asking lifeguards how many guests were in each pool. I overheard this happen several times at different spots around the waterpark. The security guards also walk around the arcade and lobby area making sure guests are wearing masks. If your still not comfy with crowds after viewing the photos above, I would recommend showing up at opening. After waiting in the mask check line, there was literally no one at the park! We literally walked onto every slide. As it got closer to 4pm, hotel checkin time, the park did get a tad bit more people-y until people started leaving the park for dinner. Drink PolicyThe drink policy!!! I’m sure everyone in NY/PA knows by now that drinks cannot be purchased without a food item due to covid. I was very curious how Splash Lagoon was going to handle this one since this literally went into effect 2 days before our trip. The good news is, you can still get yourself a delicious drink at the bar located next to the wave pool. You can order two drinks with every food item. They offered pizza slices and hot pretzels. The bad news, all those cute souvenir drink stands. Random beer spots?! Not there. I figured that would be the case, so when I didn’t spot my beloved coconut drink stand, I wasn’t heart broken since I was expecting it. I was just happy they did have a bar open! Hooch & Blotto’sHooch & Blotto’s is the dining/bowling establishment attached to Splash Lagoon & the partner hotels. It’s always a must go place when we hit up Splash Lagoon. Love that there is a sit down dining option on property. Really gives you that vacation vibe since no driving necessary. Like most restaurants, Hooch & Blotto’s is running at half capacity. Parties sit at every other table seemed to be their seating strategy. We arrived for dinner and bowling a little after 5pm. While we were there, the restaurant was pretty empty. You can’t sit at the bar & only a few other families were dinning and bowling. However, when we left, the place did start to fill up! I’m assuming the closer to 7pm (park closing) you get, the more people start piling in. So if you plan on hitting up Hooch & Blotto’s for bowling during the evening, I would highly recommend making a reservation since they are operating at 50%. If you’re an early bird like us, you should be fine just showing up. The RoomsWe had the pleasure of staying at the Holiday Inn Express which is connected the Splash Lagoon. When you first check in, there is a sign in the lobby that suggests only one member of each party check in for social distancing reasons. I was the only one checking in, so I’m not sure how strict this policy actually is, but my husband & daughter waited outside while I checked in. Employees were also all wearing masks! You cannot enter the lobby without a mask on, so make sure you have one with you. Elevators can only run with 3 people inside unless everyone is from the same household. From what I spotted, everyone was taking the stairs. Even us! We had a room right next to the stairs on the second floor, so it was the fast option for us. I’m assuming most other families took the stairs to avoid people. Not a bad idea if you ask me. There were also hand sanitizer Stands throughout the hotel so you could randomly disinfect yourself. The free Buffett breakfast that Holiday Inn Express is famous for however was a tad bit different. No buffet unfortunately, BUT you still get a hot breakfast. You wait in line and an employee hands you your food. Reminded me of a school cafeteria setup. Unfortunately, this system was a tad bit chaotic for us. The line was pretty long, so we decided to skip the free breakfast and to just have an early lunch. HOWEVER, I do want to mention that this had nothing to do with us being scared of covid! The hotel did a great job handling the situation they were dealt with. It was just that long of a line and my daughter is not patient lol.... Safety OpinionDid I fell covid safe at Splash Lagoon?!!! Absolutely!!! I honestly felt very safe once I was inside the park. Between the capacity limits and attraction limits, I never once felt uncomfortable. The only issue I can see anyone having is the long mask check line when you first enter the building since people were all over the place. I did however love that Splash Lagoon did hand out masks to people that did not wear one. No excuses not to follow rules and regulations. Did I feel covid safe at Hooch & Blotto’s?!?! Yes! While we were there early & I can only speak for our experience, there was never a time we were even close to another party. Even bowling, they have it set up every other lane. You never come in contact with anyone outside of your party. You almost get VIP vibes since you’re so secluded from other people. Did I feel covid safe at the Holiday Inn Express?!? Again, yes! Check in had social distancing rules in place. They enforce a mask policy. The only issue I can see anyone having is with the breakfast line. Then again, there probably isn’t any other way to handle such a thing, so the hotel is doing the best they can with the ever changing rules and regulations so I’m trying to be very understanding! I would 100% recommend Splash Lagoon as a safe staycation spot for any families residing in New York & Pennsylvania. I honestly felt more safe at Splash Lagoon than I do at places like Walmart! Let’s Chat!Have you taken a staycation lately?!? Where did you go?!
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4 Road Trip Games Free Printables7/21/2020 Omg y’all!!! Can it be?!?! A post that has zero to do with food!!?? Honestly, it’s been a tad bit hard for me to talk about anything but lately simply for the fact that the world is legit insane right now. I don’t want to be promoting things that can be hazardous to anyone, so I’ve been blogging all things food since the only place one needs to wander is the kitchen to make that yumminess happen! With the world slowly opening up depending where you call home, I figured it’s time for me to talk about passions of mine that don’t involve the kitchen! This weekend my family & I will be traveling a whole 45 minutes away for a mini staycation! Our first getaway since February. With many others planning road trips a tad bit further, I thought it would be fun to share a few road trip games to keep the kiddos occupied. I know many New Yorkers are heading to places like the Poconos and the Shore, so download these 4 games to make sure that car ride is a smooth one! Enjoy! ![]()
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Looking for all-ages activities in Las Vegas? I’ve been to Vegas many times! Heck, I was even married there back in 2013! Every Vegas trip I spot dozens of advertisements for the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay! On Haylie & I’s most recent trip, we moved this excursion to the top of our to-do list since all-ages Las Vegas was exactly what we were after! Would it live up to the hype?!? Or was it a cash grab?!?? Keep on reading to find out! Shark Reef at Mandalay BayShark Reef Aquarium is an exciting journey through a slowly sinking temple overcome by some of the most dangerous predators in the world. View a diverse cross-section of magnificent aquatic creatures, including 100 sharks, (15 species in all) along with exotic fish, reptiles and sea turtles. Featuring more that 2,000 animals, Shark Reef Aquarium is comprised of nearly 1.6 million gallons of water in 14 exhibits, including rare Golden Crocodiles, Piranha, a Touch Pool Experience and over 30 sharks in our 1.3 million gallon Shark Exhibit. Guests also experience two walk through tunnel exhibits giving a "diver's view" of the underwater world. AboutConceived in the mid 1990's, Mandalay Bay was destined to be different from the moment the concept was born. Included in the initial discussions and designs was something totally different from a Las Vegas perspective - an aquarium - a full size aquarium with cutting edge technology which would prove to be an excellent platform for research, conservation and education. This addition to the property would be recognized as something quite different in the middle of Nevada's high desert. Completed at a cost of nearly $60 million, the fully themed facility was designed with the idea of immersing the visitor into this underwater world in the desert. Since opening on June 20, 2000, Shark Reef Aquarium has inspired nearly a million visitors a year, and tens of thousands of the Las Vegas Valley's school children have had the opportunity to visit Shark Reef under the school group program. In March 2003, Shark Reef Aquarium became the first animal care facility in the State of Nevada to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We continue to hold this distinction as first and only to this day. Mission StatementShark Reef is dedicated to establishing and maintaining the highest standards of animal care, to providing its visitors with an entertaining and educational experience, and to the practice of meaningful research and conservation initiatives. PriceShark Reef Aquarium and Polar Journey Package: Adult $25.00 Seniors (65+) $23.00 Children (Age 4-12) $19.00 Children (3 & under) Free Nevada Resident Admission: Adult $22.00 Children (Age 4-12) $17.00 Children (3 & under) Free Best Value Package: Available at the Shark Reef Box Office. Includes: one admission to Shark Reef and one admission to Polar Journey, once 6x9 photo and a souvenir gift. Adult $37.00 Seniors (65+)$32.00 Best Value for Nevada Resident: Adult $34.00 Children (Age 4-12) $30.00 Children (3 & under) Free *** TIP*** Check Expedia or Groupon for deals!!! OpinionThe question on everyone’s mind!!! Was it fun?! Or a total cash grab?!?! What if I said it was both?!? Honestly, the reason I took so long to even post a Shark Reef review was that I didn’t know if I should spend my time writing out a neutral review! I can’t just spew out positives 24/7, so I figured y’all deserve to know the scoop! I like to think of the Shark Reef as a mini version of the chain aquarium, SeaLife! While my 7 year old had a blast pointing out all of the fishes, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is a tad bit small. You will see all that there is to see within an hour. Perfect for little ones, but if you’re older, you might leave a tad but disappointed when you walk through the aquarium thinking you must have missed a section, but nope! That was it! However, for $20+ adults in Vegas, you get exactly what you pay for! $20 doesn’t exactly get you far in Sin City. Heck, a slice of pizza and a drink at the food court will come close to that, so to see live fish and badass sharks, the price is right for Vegas! Would I go back?!? If someone handed me free tickets, absolutely! If I was staying at Mandalay Bay and needed to kill some time before heading to the airport? Sure, why not! If I’m ever in Vegas with kids under 10 years old, heck yeah I will take them to see the sharks. Would I pay $20 to roam the aquarium with a group of adults? Nope! I can think of other ways to spend that cash. Date night at the Shark Reef? Take your date somewhere else lol.... I think y’all get my point ;-) Let’s Chat!Have you been to the Shark Reef Aquarium Mandalay BayThe Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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The Venetian Indoor Gondola Rides1/13/2020 Did you even go to Las Vegas if you didn’t take a ride on a Gondola at the Venetian?!?! It’s one of the things my daughter wanted to do so bad!!! It was literally number 2 on her bucket list with Circus Circus Adventuredome being her number one. However, when we arrived at the fabulous Venetian, we were told outdoor Gondola rides had a 3 1/2 hour wait! Unfortunately you can’t phone in reservations, so it’s literally a first come first serve bases. We were then informed that the indoor gondola rides had a 45 minute wait. Same cost. Same concept. These gondola’s just cruise indoors around the mall inside the Venetian. We took the indoor reservation and kept our fingers crossed it was as awesome as an experience as the videos we watched on YouTube of the outdoor Gondolas. Venetian Indoor Gondola RidesNo trip to Venice — or The Venetian — would be complete without a graceful and romantic glide down the Grand Canal in an authentic Venetian gondola. Float beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies, and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape as your singing gondolier sweeps you down the Grand Canal for a ride like no other. Among the many things to do in Las Vegas, stepping back in time and into one of our Old World gondolas is among the most fun and romantic. Surrender to the romance of a live serenade and take in the sights from a one-of-a-kind vantage point as you float along the Grand Canal and under bridges, absorbing the enchanting atmosphere of Las Vegas’ most unique and elegant resort. Or choose the outdoor ride and enjoy an open-air experience right on the Strip. CostShared Gondola (Seats Four): $29.00 per person Private Gondola (For Two): $116.00 PhotosPhoto packages start at $22! You best believe we scooped up our souvenir photo since we didn’t have a third person with us to snap those epic Insta photos. HoursSunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. OpinionWhile I have never had the opportunity to cruise the outdoor canals at the Venetian, I can tell you Haylie and I had one heck of a time! Just watch the video above! My child legit could not stop smiling and giggling. You definitely get your money’s worth. That was actually the thing I was curious about when it came to the indoor ride since they are both the same price. Outdoors you have the glamorous Las Vegas scenery. Indoors? It wasn’t that bad! The mall ceiling is actually beautiful!! Such a glam mall! Our gondolier did an amazing job keeping us entertained as well! He sang his tunes and was so informative when it came to info he shared with us about the history of gondola’s and Vegas itself! I would highly recommend taking an indoor reservation if you can’t score and outdoor one! We had one heck of a time! My daughter literally watched her video over and over she was so happy with her experience! Hopefully next Vegas trip we can take an outdoor cruise and I can compare the two for y’all!!! Let’s Chat!Have you been on the Gondola’s at the Venetian?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Peek n’ Peak Let It Snow Family Dinner1/12/2020
Safe to say there isn’t a child out there, heck not even that many adults that aren’t obsessed with all things Frozen. So when we heard one of our favorite staycation spots, The Peek n’Peak was hosting a frozen themed family dinner, you best believe we scooped up tickets! We even made sure to get an extra one for Haylie’s Elsa obsessed cousin. Peek n’ Peak Let It Snow Family DinnerSpend the evening with some of your favorite characters while enjoying sing-a-longs, short performances and photo opportunities. Dinner will be served, including a variety of fresh pizzas and salads. Ticket Pricing: - $25 per Adult - $15 per Kid (Ages 3-12) - FREE (Kids Ages 2 and under) MenuThe eats on the evening menu were cheese and pepperoni pizza. Salads, dinner rolls, lemonade, water and a hot chocolate bar! Basically as kid and parent friendly as foods can get! All served buffet style. OpinionI actually went back & forth about writing this review. We are obsessed with the Peek n’ Peak! We practically live at the pool all winter long! So when I have to tell you guys, the event was just ok. It sort of breaks my heart. To start out, the room was set up fabulously! Gave me wedding vibes!!! Each person had a marshmallow snowman to put together while waiting for the show to start, which I thought was a very festive touch. The food? Exactly what we expected. Pizza and salad. You can’t go wrong with that combo! Only issue was this was set up buffet style and kids had to wait in super long lines to get food. If the Peek were to ever do this event again, I would hope for maybe being served family style? Bring a giant bowl of salad and a pizza to the tables. Keep refilling if needed. The lines and the amount of people in attendance just wasn’t a good mix. This was an event for kiddos and kids do not wait very well. Also there wasn’t bar service. While this wasn’t that big of a deal for me personally, there were so many guests walking back and forth to the bar that it made me sit back and wonder why they just didn’t send a cocktail waitress upstairs to serve everyone? Major money the Peek could have made! Maybe next time have a beer/wine list and have that setup upstairs so there isn’t so much back and forth for the waitresses and guests. I think a lot more people would have been chill and more relaxed with a drink in hand. Maybe they wouldn’t have even minded their antsy kids behavior when it came to the long food lines? As for the entertainment, the cast was fantastic! My daughter and her cousin were so happy to meet their favorite frozen characters and to see them perform! So our overall experience was just ok! Would I go again? Probably! I would have to read the schedule of events and see if anything was tweeked. My daughter and her cousin loved everything about the characters! They just wish they could have eaten when they wanted to eat. 3 & 7 year olds aren’t exactly that patient. I really do hope to see more events like this in the future! I hope if anyone at the Peek does read this, that they take this criticism with love. We are huge fans of the peek! You did a marvelous job trying to entertain our kiddos! Just learn from the mistakes and plan an even better event next time!!! Hope to see an event invite in my inbox for another family dinner real soon :):):) Let’s Chat!Are you a Frozen fan?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Another Disney trip has come & gone, which means I’m due for another Disney Hotel review!!! At this rate I think I might make it a goal of mine to stay at ALL the Disney Springs hotels so I can give you the real scoop since I just love how y’all trust me enough to be your #BoujeeOnABudget queen! Such an honor :):) If you’re a newbie, I love high end things & I’m the queen of finding high end things for a deal so #BoujeeOnABudget became my thing thanks to my loyal readers!!! If you’re fancy and looking for a killer Disney hotel deal without taking away from your Louie fund, then you’re in the right place since I have a goodie in store for you!!! Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace ~ Disney SpringsLet me introduce you to the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs! Omg!!! Try saying that more than once. Total tongue twister lol. Located in the Disney Springs area, it’s an official Disney Hotel and located right across the street from Disney Springs! Location, location, LOCATION my friends!!! Official Disney Hotel Perks!It’s crazy how many people don’t know that the Disney Springs Hotels are actually Official Disney Resorts! That’s right, hotels like Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace offer the same Disney hotel perks!!! Guests of the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace can enjoy Disney’s Extra Magic Hours benefit, complementary park shuttles and FastPass+ Service meaning you can book your fast passes 60 days in advance and not 30 days like non-Disney hotel guests! If you’re trying to score fast passes for hot rides in Toy Story Land or the new Star Wars, booking a room at the Hilton may be your best bet for that hard to score pass!! Food & DrinksFrom classic American fare to a Sunday breakfast with beloved Disney characters, that’s right, The Hilton Buena Vista Palace has their own character breakfast!!! With five onsite dining options there is definitely something to satisfy every craving! We enjoyed many beverages poolside at Shades! There are waitresses that walk around to cater to your every need so you don’t even have to walk up to the restaurant yourself! Just sit back and relax and take advantage of the fact you’re not severing anyone for a change! The lunch menu was pretty yummy as well. I enjoyed chips and guacamole and Haylie grubbed down on a grilled cheese sandwich! Unfortunately for us, we were unable to make the Character Breakfast! They host the character breakfast once a week on a Sunday and that’s when we were checking out. Bummer! The RoomsThe question on everyone’s minds when I stay anywhere!!!! How are the rooms?!?!? We were placed in a suite in the Island building (poolside)! A total shock since our reservation was for a standard room!!! Nothing better than scoring an unexpected upgrade. WooHoo!!! When you walk into our suite you walk through a little hallway which is home to a tiny “kitchen” area. Mini refrigerator, cupboard to store snacks, a coffee maker and a microwave. This is something I’m always looking for when I book rooms. Between my wine and Haylie’s nonstop “mom drink”, a mini fridge is a must! A microwave is also a super huge bonus since who doesn’t want to heat up leftovers!!! Thankfully most hotels have both these days and the Hilton was no exception. Then you enter the living room which had a pullout couch and a mini dining area. Basically a table with two chairs. The pullout couch was where Haylie slept! Then there is the master bedroom and bathroom. Both were just your standard bedroom/bathroom areas. Overall I was happy. The room was clean, the ac was ice cold just how I like it and plenty roomy. The PoolChill. Splash. Rejuvenate. Savor – the choice is yours. In between days at the parks, take some time to hit the pool!! The pool is literally the reason most people book the Hilton Buena Vista Palace! So many pools to choose from! A lazy river!!!! A “splash pad” area of the pool! Cabana rentals!!! Towel service!!! The best part? The pool is heated in the winter! That’s right! If you’re visiting Mickey in the winter and your kids are crying to go swim in 50-60 degree weather. Let them! Pool is heated in cooler weather!! WooHoo!!! OpinionMy opinion?!?! Is the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace #BoujeeOnABudget ?!?! My answer is yes! The lobby is pretty! The pool area, ahhhhhhh!!!!! You almost forget that the pool is not the focus of the trip, but Mickey is. So hard to leave!!! You are also literally right across the street from Disney Springs so you can eat and shop and go back to the room all day long without a car or Lyft! This is a huge perk to me. I am Disney Springs obsessed, so to be able to come and go as I please without transportation is pretty sweet! The rooms could be a tad bit more glam, but hey! They are clean, which is definitely a huge plus when it comes to Orlando hotels. As a former local, there are some pretty sketchy hotels in the Orlando area and the Hilton ia definitely not one of them! The best part of staying at this fabulous resort would have to be the Disney hotel perks! A standard room during non-peak dates will cost you around $129 for a standard room. This exact hotel is actually listed as a Disney “deluxe” category hotel. So you are getting a Deluxe category room for less than a Disney themed “budget” resort such as the all-stars. You can’t beat it!! A deluxe category room, with 60 day in advance fast passes AND Disney Extra Magic Hours right across the street from Disney Springs?!?! Can’t beat it! If location and pools are your thing, you will fall in love with Hilton Buena Vista Palace! Let’s Chat!Have you stayed at the Hilton Palace Disney Springs?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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Being a special needs parent is definitely unique. While most days it really doesn’t phase me. I’m blessed that my daughter is higher up on the autism spectrum. However, when it comes to activities and inclusion, ughhh!!!! This is the one area that really makes my heart ache. My daughter misses out on so much. Camps are too scared to take special needs kiddos no matter how high functioning they are. She “can’t” play certain sports. After school programs? Unless I’m wanting to pay out of pocket for an aide to attend or attend myself until the program feels confident she can do things on her own (I’ve done this with many activities, just call me the assistant teacher/coach lol), we are out of luck! While most parents send their kids off to camps and sports during school break to chill with their peers, us special needs parents are pretty much with our kiddos 24/7! As much as I love my daughter, 24/7 around anyone will eventually drive you mad! When my husband and I first found out that ALL Beaches Resorts are IBCCES certified and everyone is included in everything, even the included in your fees kids camp ?!?! We didn’t believe it! We could run away to the tropics during school breaks AND my daughter can chill with other kids while hubby and I actually get some alone, one on one time?!?! I swear I reread the Camp Sesame page on the Beaches Resorts website 1000 times thinking there was a catch. THER HAD TO BE A CATCH!!!! This could not be real!!??!? I’m here to say it’s 100% legit!!!! We went to Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos and lived like a normal family for an entire week!!!! No one asked 72892 questions. No one glared at us. My daughter had the opportunity to take part in every kids activity the resort had to offer!!!! She had a blast!!! My husband and I had a blast!!! We all had a blast!!! When Beaches says that "The Resorts for Everyone" they mean it! Camp SesameCamp Sesame is the children’s camp at Beaches Turks & Caicos open from 9am-9pm.Beaches team members have the requisite knowledge, skills, temperament, and expertise to cater to ALL children, including those with autism and other special needs, and offer age‐specific programs for infants, toddlers, pre‐teens and teens!!! At Camp Sesame, kids can truly have a blast and splash the day away in toddler pools, go on a shell collecting hunt, have their face painted, go on treasure hunts, watch puppet shows, costume time, magic shows, sand castle building just to name a few. My daughter even had the opportunity to celebrate Elmos birthday with cake and all!!! Ibcces CertifiedBeaches is the first resort company in the world to complete the rigorous IBCCES training and Autism Certification! Beaches is proud to offer families like my own and others with children with autism and other special needs specialized service, engaging activities and custom dining options so that all families may enjoy a memorable, award-winning Beaches Luxury Included experience. Personal ExperienceIf you made it this far in the post, I’m sure this is what you have been waiting for! Our experience! We did email Beaches Resorts concierge for info on Camp Sesame the week before our trip. We wanted to be as prepared as we possibly could! They sent us a two page questionnaire asking everything they possibly needed to know about my daughter and her diagnosis. Apparently they even cater to dietary needs! Honestly I loved that everything the certified nannies could possibly ask me was on those two sheets of paper meaning they wouldn’t have to ask me anything! I filled them out and sent them back ASAP. When we arrived at Camp Sesame the staff already had our paperwork on hand. You just need to have your child’s passport with you to prove identity so do not leave the passport I the room. This is when I got scared. Right off the bat, I was offered one on one nanny services for $15hr. Ummmm I like to think I’m successful and make decent money, but that was not budgeted at all. I was thinking to myself omg here is the catch!!!Once I stated I wasn’t interested and only wanted Camp Sesame they quickly changed the subject. I’m guessing they try to make a sale with everyone so do not get alarmed as I did! I almost had a heart attack lol. We packed a backpack with a change of clothes, swim suit, sun screen, left it with staff with my phone number and off we went. Not a single text!!! We went back several hours later after a fun day at the pool and as we arrived we saw my daughter giggling and smiling away before she spotted us!!!! She was truly having fun! We picked her up and she did not want to leave. She celebrated Elmos birthday. She’s obsessed with Elmo! She swam in the kiddie pool out back! When I asked about her behavior I was told she did great and if there were any issues with other kids being curious. My daughter is “nonverbal” so questions were asked about this, they simply took my daughter out of the situation to do something super fun while they explained things to the kiddo asking the questions and then brought everyone back together to play! I loved this! A very good way to make sure everyone was truly having a blast all day long and my daughter did not have to witness “the conversation”. There are also several nannies to care for the kiddos. I’m assuming someone was most likely assigned to my daughter to make sure she had an extra set of eyes on her if she was really that well behaved. My daughter is 7 years old and we did however place her in the 5 year old camp. My daughter still loves Sesame Street and personality-wise relates to toddler better, so we all agreed this was the route to take. So if you have a kiddo and would feel more comfy if they were placed in the younger camp, they welcome it! Actually, I think they were re leaved I made the suggestion at drop off! Makes their job easier I’m sure! Plus, it gave this mama peace of mind! I know she gets along with younger kids great! My daughter went back for a second day and had just as much fun! She made cookies with Cookie Monster!! Total bragging rights there!! It was truly a dream come true for her to take part in something fun while my husband and I had just as much fun together spending one on one time together as well! Thank you Beaches Resorts for thinking about EVERYONE and making sure all inclusive really is for everyone!!! Literally a special needs family dream vacation! Let’s Chat!Have you been to a Beaches Resort?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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One of my favorite things about going on a fabulous vacation is the food!!! Living in a small town, delicious, over the top food is one thing we lack in our every day lives. When we are on vacation, you best believe I live it up food-wise. When we were planning out our Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos itinerary, when checking out all the sample menus online, we just had to check out Mario’s! Fine dining is my favorite and when I spotted lamb chops being the chef’s signature dish, I knew Mario’s Restaurant would end up being a favorite! Mario’s RestaurantMario’s is an enchanting Tuscan-Inspired restaurant located in the Italian Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos! Offering an elegant dining experience with a centrally located open show kitchen, stunning vaulted ceilings and beautiful ironwork it’s hard not to fall in love with Mario’s at first site! The MenuAt Mario’s you can savour authentic Italian dishes inspired by the flavors of Italy, with an emphasis on fare from Milan, including hand-rolled lasagna, signature pasta dishes, veil piccata and my favorite cutlets of lamb. One of the best parts of dining at Mario’s just happens to be the extensive antipasto bar!!! That’s right, once you are seated and order your favorite glass of vino, you can dig into offering such as freshly roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant, olives, deli meats, cheeses and more! Just make sure not to over stuff yourself before your main course is served ;-) And for the kiddos? If they aren’t a fan of over the top Italian deliciousness, options like chicken nuggets are there to save the day! Mom and dad can dine on the most delicious culinary creations while the kiddo digs in on every child’s favorite, nuggets! OpinionObviously I was totally obsessed with Mario’s! Mario’s was my favorite dinner out of all of our dinners the week we were at Beaches Turks & Caicos. I loved it so much I just had to write about it and share the deliciousness with y’all!! Mario’s is one of the finer dining options at Beaches that is also 100% kid friendly! A huge plus in my book since we always travel with my daughter. We used Mario’s as our fancy family night out and dressed to impress for photos before our dinner. My husband & I both had the lamb chops and they were everything we expected them to be! Cooked to perfection! My daughter had the chicken nuggets and she was just as pleased with her meal. If you are like me and looking for a culinary, family-friendly experience while at Beaches, Mario’s is a must!!! You won’t be disappointed! However, if you’re looking for “American Italian” favorites, this will not be the spot for you. This is a restaurant with over the top cuts of meat and beyond delicious authentic Italian dishes, so do not expect Americanized Olive Garden. Tip ~ 5:30pm seems to also be the perfect time to dine if you are trying to avoid crowds. We had an event to attend at 7:30, and the restaurant was pretty much empty when we arrived. By the time we left to head to our event, the place did start to fill up. So if you are dining with young children or you do not want to wait for a table, earlier you show up, the better. Let’s Chat!What are your favorite Italian dishes?The Recommended Posts widget will appear here on the published site.
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12/1/2020
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