MY RECIPE CORNER- HOW TO MAKE A DELICIOUS SCRUMPTIOUS KEY LIME PIE

Hello all,

The holidays are upon us and for me that means cooking. I love cooking turkey and all the sides and delicious desserts. One dessert we love making here in Florida is scrumptious Key Lime Pie. I like this one almost as much as pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I ran across one that sounds both delicious and easy to make on epicurious.  Give it a try and enjoy:


INGREDIENTS:
For crust-

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp sugar
5 tbsp melted butter

For filling-

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
4 large egg yolks
 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp fresh or bottled key lime juice

For topping-

3/4 cup heavy chilled cream


DIRECTIONS:
For crust-

Preheat oven to 350*
Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar in a 9 inch pie plate, Mix well and press mixture evenly on the bottom and up the sides.
Bake crust in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes then remove and let cool. Keep oven on.

Make filling and bake the pie-

Whisk together eggs yolks and condensed milk in a bowl. Add juice and whisk till slightly thickened. Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of the oven for 15 minutes. Cool pie completely then chill for 8 hours. Filling will set as it cools.

Make topping-

Just before serving beat the cream in a bowl with an electric mixer till it holds stiff peaks. Top pie with cream and serve. Enjoy!

delicious scrumptious key lime pie

WHAT ARE FLORIDAS MOST DANGEROUS VENOMOUS PESTS

Hello all,

With the onslaught of talk and panic surrounding the Zika Virus and mosquitoes here in Florida, I thought I would list some dangerous and venomous pests indigenous to Florida that we all should be aware of:

1.Spiders- These are definitely one of Florida's most dangerous venomous pests. There are 2 kinds of spiders found in Florida that can be dangerous. The brown recluse is one of the most dangerous of all in Florida. Its a small brown spider with violin type marking on its back. its bite is highly venomous and can put you in the hospital.

Florida's most dangerous venomous pests - spiders

The Southern Black Widow is more common. It has a distinctive red hourglass marking on its back. The female of the species is bigger and far more venomous. Their webs look 3 dimensional and chaotic. To avoid getting bit you should shake out clothing and footwear before putting on.

2.Snakes- There are 6 types of venomous snakes in Florida that are dangerous and venomous you should watch out for. The Southern Copperhead .They usually grow to about 36 inches long. It has a wide head and is pinkish tan. it is usually found west of the panhandle. Their bites are very painful, but usually not enough to kill a healthy adult.

The Cottonmouth is another one that is also known as a Water Moccasin. Florida has 2 types of these and they are darkly colored with heavy bodies usually 48 inches long. Their bites are fatal, and are found in or near water. So watch out!

Florida's most dangerous and venomous pests - snakes

The Timber Rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper. It can grow to be 60 inches long. It has black cross bands and a grayish body. Stay away from this one, it is one of Florida's most dangerous.

The Pygmy Rattlesnake is a small snake that can be found all over Florida. It can be 24 inches long, and is black with grayish markings. It makes a rattling noise when agitated. Ist bite isn't fatal but is very painful.

Florida's most dangerous venomous pests - snakes #2

The Eastern Diamondback is also known as a Rattler. They are very heavy snakes and can be up to 72 inches long as weigh as much as 26 pounds. It can strike out up 2/3 of its body length and is very venomous.

The Eastern Coral Snake has distinctive markings. It has black, red, and yellow bands. It can grow to 30 inches long and is all throughout Florida. Its bite is life threatening, second only to the Eastern Diamondback. Many confuse it with the Scarlet Kingsnake because of its similar markings.

Florida's most dangerous venomous pests - snakes #3

3. Aedes Mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters, but also bite at night. The Zika Virus we've been hearing about in Florida is spread by these mosquitoes. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause birth defects. There is no vaccine for the Zika Virus. It can also be spread through sexual partners or if a mosquito bites someone who is already infected with it. The virus in healthy adults usually lasts several days to a week and can include rash, fever, headache, red eyes, and muscle pain. You can protect yourself with mosquito repellent and long sleeved shirts and pants. Many theme parks here in Florida are now offering mosquito repellent to all visitors.

4. The Bufo Toad has been showing up in Florida lately. It is a huge grayish brown toad with a yellow belly and can grow to 9 inches or larger. It moves in short fast hops and when confronted it shoots toxin from the glands on its back in the form of white venom. It is highly toxic to dogs and cats and causes skin irritations in humans. It causes your pets to have very foamy saliva, vomiting, convulsions and paralysis. Keep your pets away!

Florida's most dangerous venomous pests - Bufo Toad

5. The Triatomine Bug or Kissing Bug has been showing up in South Florida. The inch long brown insects can carry the parasite that causes the potentially deadly Chagas Disease. They are known as the kissing Bug because they usually bite you around your mouth and face. The parasite can be inside of you for years and can cause heart disease.

Florida's most dangerous venomous pests - Kissing Bug

So please be forewarned when traveling  and know of hidden pests. A little research can keep you healthy!

7 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE

This post may contain affiliate links.

Hello, Because of the severe storm I thought it best to repost this story I wrote.

Hello all,

For us Floridians hurricane season is upon us. It runs from June 1st to November 30th. The peak period is from August to October. Its never been more evident than right now with the storms that are brewing in the Atlantic. With that said, I thought it would be a good idea to post important preparation ideas and tips for the storm season:

1. Check your insurance coverage and make sure its up to date and consider adding flood insurance or other insurance in case your house is uninhabitable after a storm.

2. Make copies of proof of ownership documents like your home, cars, etc. Its better to be safe than sorry. You should also have some type of documents of the contents of your home via either a video or manifest. In case you need to file a claim, it makes things easier. You should store these items in a safe or a hurricane proof  kit.

3. Protect your home and property by having either having hurricane shutters installed or you can fix 3/4 inch plywood panels to cover your windows. You can also use hurricane straps or clips to help hold your roof down. You should  also stow away lawn furniture or any other debris on your lawn that can do damage to your home in high winds.

4. Have an emergency kit ready. This should include items such as a 2 week supply of water and non perishable food for every person and pet. It should also include items such as a manual can opener, first aid kit, important medications, eye glasses, battery powered flashlight with extra batteries, personal hygiene items, change of clothing, sleeping bags, a cooler for ice, and plastic tarps and tools. You should buy some items such as bottled water well in advance. I cant tell you how many times we've waited for the last minute to buy items to find the grocery store shelves emptied of all bottled water and batteries.

5. Have an evacuation plan. The main reason people are evacuated is because of a storm surge. Be aware if you live in a hurricane evacuation area, and what shelters are available in your area. Be forewarned, only a few evacuation shelters take pets, so make sure you have plans for them. Most people living in mobile homes or high rises still may have to evacuate even if they don't live in an evacuation area.

6. One thing often overlooked is your electronics. It is strongly encouraged to back up your electronics and if able data should be stored at an off site location so it can be recovered if your computer is damaged.

7. Lastly, make sure you have your important information with you like your ID's, SS cards and health insurance cards. Make sure you have cash on hand, and make sure you fill your car up with gas. You never know if gas stations will be open or not.

Hopefully with these tips we can all stay safe and prepared during this hurricane season.

Hello all,

I came  across this and  just wanted to let you know--Free shipping on all orders at Gymboree today

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SPOTLIGHT STORY TOM RYAN AND HIS AMAZING 3D PRINTING

Hello all,

My Spotlight Story this week is about Tom Ryan. Hes an engineer but he creates awesome items with his 3D printer as a hobby. Tom writes:

The most common form of 3D printing is FDM or Fused Deposited Modeling.  This is whats seen in the video below.  The simple idea of 3D printing, or additive manufacturing is analogous with building the pyramids. You put down one layer of material down at a time, and then you move up and put a layer down on top of that. But for 3D printing, instead of putting down solid bricks you melt plastic and let it solidify where you want it to. It can be likened to welding, as when you're laying down a bead, and then another bead on top of that, and another and so on till you get the pattern that you want. There is a popular website for 3D printers. It's called thingiverse.com. It's a depository for 3D models. People can go to the site and make, upload and print all types of stuff for example the angel blade for the show Supernatural. A lot of people on that site have posted a lot of great pictures of stuff they have successfully 3D printed. Tom has made many items with his 3D printer like jewlery and book ends. He has even had some of his creations featured on is own Etsy site for sale. Pictured below is a necklace he made that's of  Dean's amulet from the show Supernatural and coasters from Dragonball  Z.

This is Tom's printer in action!

WOW ITS UNBELIEVABLE BUT LOOK WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR FREE

Hello all,

I ran across some great FREEBIES today and I wanted to share some with you. Hope you find something you need. Enjoy:

Have you ever ridden with UBER ? Ff not your very first ride is free when you make a new account and use the code FEELIN22 for a free ride up to $22.

https://get.uber.com/?_ga=1.87464784.997855808.1471634222

You can get a free $3 VISA gift card instantly when you download the free Shoptracker APP. And it says you receive it every month. The link is below:

 http://www.shoptrackerapp.com/?reqid=63418163&affid=11591&o=11840

Free butterfly garden starter kit. Just go to their site and PLEDGE TODAY! Upload a photo of you, making the American Sign Language sign for butterfly, as your pledge to help the Monarch butterfly. The link is below:

http://www.nwf.org/Butterfly-Heroes/Pledge.aspx

Free lemonade at RED ROBIN on August 20th. Visit their lemonade stand for free samples of their Freckled Lemonade.

You can get 4 free 8x10 prints or 4 free sets of custom address labels from Shutterfly when you use the code MYGIFT at checkout- you just pay shipping!  https://www.shutterfly.com

You can get a free Atkins kit when you go to their site and register.
 http://www.atkins.com/register?mcid=riserafop&utm_source=op&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=1off&SharedID=1071

You can get 3 free meals from IHOP when you join their pancake revolution club. Just go to their site and register.

http://www.ihop.com/pancake-revolution

You can get free Nivea lotion samples. Just go to their site and request the ones you want to try.

http://www.niveausa.com/experience/ext/en-US/NIVEA%20Evergreen

You can get a free travel size hair spray or hand relief moisturizing creme at checkout with any order and free shipping from AVEDA when you use the codes AIR86 or code HAND 86.

http://www.aveda.com/index.tmpl?cm_mmc=Linkshare-_-OOTtr9mlaCk-_-513-_-3&siteID=OOTtr9mlaCk-hBif2hfhZRihjzV0AlpZeQ

You can get a free Centrum Vitamints sample when you go to their site and enter your shipping information.

https://www.centrum.com/free-vitamints-sample

You can get a free EMERGEN-C sample when you go to their site and enter your shipping information.

https://www.emergenc.com/free-sample

Tomorrow on August 20th only, you can go to a Cinemark Theatre at 8:30 am for free tickets for their Community Day! These will be for childrens PG movies.

http://www.cinemark.com/we-partnership

You can get a free Disney Cakes and Sweets magazine with free Disney silicone bakeware, Mickey Mouse cookie cutter and embosser set and Winnie the Pooh stencils, just pay $4.95  shipping and handling for the bakeware set.

https://www.order-safely.com/eaglemoss/splash/disney_product_info495_0116_dc021/?cid=7372F595EE26C57EF38FA4C01F8FD6F9&ref=CD12595&pxl=FO-11768&affid=31-84231730

You can get free Dove Men's Dry Deodorant samples when you watch a video and request a sample.

http://see.walmart.com/drysprays?
&u1=&oid=223073.1&wmlspartner=r0CO2efxdsg&sourceid=24887302122780717224&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

MY RECIPE CORNER- IMPOSSIBLY EASY BREAKFAST BAKE

Hello all,

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. So when I ran across this delicious recipe from Betty Crocker  that's so easy to make I had to share! Enjoy:

Breakfast Bake-

Ingredients:

2 - 12 oz packages bulk pork sausage
1 medium chopped green pepper
1 medium chopped onion
3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup Biscuit mix
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 eggs

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease  13x9x2 rectangle baking dish.
Cook sausage, green pepper, and onion in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink.
Stir together sausage mixture, potatoes, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese in the baking dish.
Stir Biscuit mix, pepper and eggs until blended and pour into baking dish.
Bake uncovered 40-45 minutes until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake 1-2 minutes longer until cheese melts.
Cool 5 minutes and enjoy!

20 AMAZING LIFE HACKS

Hello all,

Who couldn't use a little trick to make everyday living easier? Well I've found a few awesome hacks to share with you:

Paint your keys with different nail polish colors so you know what each key is for

Place a rubber band around an open paint can to wipe your brush on and to keep paint from dripping down the side of the can.

Secure pantyhose to the end of a vacuum hose to find small items like earrings.

Use a can opener to open blister packages.

Add a teaspoon of baking soda to boiling water to make your hard boiled egg peel easier.

Use plastic bread clips to organize and label wires.

To easier clean a shower head , tie a baggie of vinegar around it and let sit overnight. Cleaning the next day will be a breeze.

Rub a stuck zipper with a pencil to make unstuck.

Use toothpaste to clean dirty headlights.

When heating leftovers in the microwave. If you create a circle in the middle of the food it heats up quicker and more evenly.

Use a stick of spaghetti to light a candle.

Put plastic wrap on the stems of your bananas to keep fresh longer.

Put dryer sheets in your luggage when traveling for fresher smelling clothes.

To remove a grease stain rub with chalk and launder as usual.

Put a dry tea bag is smelly shoes to absorb odors.

To get rid of scratches on wooden furniture, rub a walnut over it.

Clean your microwave by nuking a mix of water and vinegar for 3 minutes. Will easily clean with a quick wipe.

Press a hot spoon on a mosquito bite to stop the itching.

To unclog a toilet use 3 squirts of dish washing detergent and then 4 cups of hot water into the bowl.

Use a clothing rod to hang spray bottles and save space.

Have you tried any of these? Comment if you have anymore. Some sound amazing, and hopefully you'll find they come in handy.

WHAT ARE FLORIDAS PET FRIENDLIEST CITIES

Hello all,

Some of us may be trying to sneak in that last  minute vacation before school starts . But then the question remains, what to do with Fido? For those of you who don't have a small petting zoo as I do , Florida may be the place to go! Florida has 582 dog friendly cities for that last minute vacation. Here are just a few:

Key West- this city has 8 pet friendly hotels and resorts. Some of them are very nice ones including Banana Bay Resort,  and the Westin Key West Resort and Marina. More reasonable priced ones would include Best Western Key Ambassador Key Inn  and Sheraton Suites Key West. This city has many pet friendly things to do like Lazy Dog Kayak,(where Fido rides with you in the front of the kayak), Key West Dog Beach, and Key West Charters Eco-charters( where your pooch and the ships captains golden retriever usually comes along). And if you're looking for a place for Fido to dine with you, you should try the New York Pasta Garden, Sarabeths, and Schooner Wharf Bar among many others.

Orlando - This city has over 78 pet friendly hotels. This list includes the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, Wyndham Orlando Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal, and Omni Orlando Champion Resort. They have many dog parks here for Fido to run like Avalon Park, Lake Eola Park and also the downtown Orlando Farmers Market. For eats, try the Relax Grill, Wildside BBQ and Grill, and the Boston Coffeehouse among others. Orlando has 49 pet friendly restaurants in all! A pets paradise!

Tampa- This city boasts 57 pet friendly hotels, These include the Seminole Hark Rock Hotel and Casino, the Westin, and the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk. It has 16 dog parks, including Picnic Island Dog Park, Davis Island Dog Park, and Lake Park. One of the nicer dog friendlier places to eat here is Sail Pavilion on the Riverwalk. Here guest can arrive by car and boat. They have stainless steel water dishes, a clean up station, free doggy treats and a dog menu with Frostypaws and Mr. Barksmith Smoothies. Also Grill Smith in Carrolwood is nice.

Jacksonville- This city has 65 pet friendly hotels. This would iclude the Sheraton Jacksonville, Hotel Indigo, and Aloft Jackonsonville Tapestry park. For pet friendly things to do here you can go to one of many dog parks including the Confederate Point Dog Park, Dogwood Park, and Julington Creek Animal Walk. It boasts pet friendly eateries, 36 in all , like the upscale The Brick Restaurant, and the Taverna where they bring you water and treats for your dog. For dessert visit Bruester's Real Ice Cream where they will bring you a free sundae with crumbled dog bones on top for their furry customers.

Fort Lauderdale- This city has 64 pet friendly hotels in all including the Westin Beach Resort, II Lugano Suite Hotel, and LaQuinta Inn.  For places for Fido to go they have the Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach which boasts dog bags, water and beach showers. Then there is Snyder Dog Swim and Bark Park that has a fenced in dog friendly beach with  a clean lake  for swimming. Some of their 39  pet friendly places to eat are the YOLO which has an outdoor lounge for you and your dog with a firepit and the H20 Cafe where you and your pet can dine on a large oceanfront patio.

All these things make Florida a truly dog friendly destination!

GYMBOREE AND STITCH FIX JUST MADE BACK TO SCHOOL EASIER!

Hello all,

Back to school time is almost here and I have some big news to share with you! Gymboree-  the  creater of  quality children's clothes and accessories that are the fabric of childhood have partnered with Stitch Fix. What Stitch Fix has created is awesome! Stitch Fix stylists have put together back to school bundles. Stylish outfits for your children already assembled to make  school mornings easier. Think of it as a cheat sheet for kids fashion!

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/girls-clothing/styled-by-stitch-fix?SSAID=1328149&utm_source=sas&utm_medium=aff&utm_campaign=sas

They have so many styles, colors, and fabrics to choose from. Clearly there is something for every personality  to choose from. I would be a proud mom  to see my child rocking these back to school fashions! After looking through all of their awesome clothes I put together my own bundle. Take a look!

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-swan-peplum-tunic-140157232

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-the-best-friend-pant-1401568

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-floral-french-clip-140155189

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/girls-gladiator-sandals-140155152

Gymboree celebrates childhood and creates quality clothes. In Gymboree, they make kids shine bright and families look great together for the special occassion that is every day of childhood. The partnering of them with Stitch Fix makes back to school time so much easier and fun!

 **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I was compensated for this post.

FLORIDA'S CREEPIEST URBAN LEGENDS

Hello all,

Each state in our country comes with its own unique set of stories and urban legends. I  just wanted to share a few of Florida's with you. I think the last one is the creepiest:


1. Florida Skunk Ape  - Some places have Bigfoot,  Florida has the Skunk Ape. In 1959 three boy scouts came out of the Ocala National Forest saying their camp was attacked by a big hairy monster having the face of a human and body of an ape. Since then there have been literally hundreds of other sightings. One in particular was from a trucker who claimed he was pulled from his truck by a hairy creature that  smelled awful.He said he was carried a few yards and kicked himself free. He then ran to his truck and he  frightened it away by blasting his air horn. Two anonymous photos of the creature snooping around in a backyard sent to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department have kept the legend alive. The creature even has its own commemorative silver coin! In 1959, three boy scouts emerged in a panic from  or a skunk. It’s this skunk-like stink that gives the skunk ape its name, although old timers in rural areas often refer to it as a “swamp monkey.” My theory, if this thing reall exists, is that when the creature is upset it gives off musk. This is not just a slight scent, wit

1998 photo of skunk ape by Dave Shealy

2.  Mexican Pet- -  While vacationing from new York, a couple while on their way to take a boat trip rescued a dog on the side of the road. Unable to find its owner, they take it back home with them. There it attacks and eats the family cat. When they take it to the vet, he tells them its not a dog but a Haitian rat. boy scouts emerged in a panic from the Ocala National Forest with a wild tale of having been routed from their camp by a


3. Fairfield Oak-  Legend says back in the 1800's in Ormond Beach a majestic oak tree was on property owned by Norman Harwood. He killed himself under the oak tree by committing suicide.   Years later James Ormond II bought the land and built a plantation on it he named Damietta.  A few years later Ormond was also found dead under the same tree, a suicide as well. People say when you go under the tree you feel intense sadness and have  suicidal thoughts. Sometimes you can see a ghostly figure under the tree also. The tree sits in the Bulow Creek State Park.

4.  Spook Hill- Centuries ago, legend states a native American chief fought in a battle with an enormous alligator to protect his village. It ended with their deaths and a giant sinkhole formed at the spot. Pioneers later started calling the spot Spook Hill because their horses were laboring too hard to be riding downhill.  In later years, a merchant parked his truck on the hill and was terrified to see his car going backwards up a hill on its own. he blamed it on "Spooks" and that's how it got its name.  Today many people come from all over . They park their car in on the white marked line put their car in  neutral and see them roll uphill backwards. The hill is actually an optical illusion, sometimes called a gravity hill. The area makes them appear to roll up hill when in actuality they're rolling downhill.

5. Devil's chair- There sits a red brick bench in a cemetery that is on the borders of the towns Cassadaga and Lake Helen. They call it the Devil's Chair. The devil is said to speak to anyone who sits in the chair. Also if you sit in the chair around midnight, you supposedly cannot move from it for a whole minute, like it has a hold of you. Some people say if you leave an unopened can of beer on the bench over night,when you return the can is empty with the can never have been opened. The town of Cassadaga is a strange little Florida town. It was founded in the 19th century by a medium from Iowa name George Colby. He is buried in this same cemetery. The town became a haven for spiritualists and those who say they can speak with the dead. 

MY TOP 10 WORST CITIES IN FLORIDA

Hello all,

Florida has a lot of wonderful things to do and a lot of nice places to live. But like all other states, they have some really bad cities too. After reading several other sites with their rankings, here is my list of top 10 worst places to live in Florida:

10. Palatka- It has a crime index of 7.  Its national media is 3.8 meaning 1 out of every 155 residents will be a victim of a violent crime. 39% of  them live below the poverty line.

9. Riviera Beach- This city is made up of both wealthy and poor residents.  It has a crime index of 4. One out of every 84 people will fall victim to a violent crime.

8.  Homestead- This city has a high rate of poverty with 31% living below the poverty line. It has a crime index of 4.  One out of every 76 people will fall victim to a violent crime.

7.  Miami- This city was picked as #1 worst city for last year. This year its doing better. Its crime index is a 4. It experiences 71 murders and 2500 assaults annually. One in every 84 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

6. St. Pete- This is one of those cities that has parts for the very rich and the very poor.  It has a crime index of 3.  One out of every 117 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

5.  Lake Worth-  This city has 2500 crimes per year.  It has a crime index of 3. One out of every 89 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

4.  Fort pierce- It has a crime index of 3. One out of every 92 people will be a victim of a violent crime. It has a very high unemployment rate of 9.6  It ranks in the worst 10% of the country for its crime rate.

3.  Daytona Beach-  It has a crime index of  2. One out of every 78 people here will be a victim of violent crime. 31% of its population live below the poverty line.

2.  Panama City-  this city is the 79th largest community in Florida. It has a crime index of 1. One out of every 110 people will be a victim of a violent crime.

1.  Florida City-  yes this is the worst city to live in the state of Florida. It has a crime index of  0- you cant get no lower of than that. 1 in every 35 people will be a victim of a violent crime. It is in the worst 10% of the country. 41 % of its residents live below the poverty line.

MY REVIEW OF THE CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM

Hello all,

Sunday afternoon my family and I decided to visit a local aquarium. We decided on Clearwater Marine Aquarium since we've never been there. Its also the home of Winter the Dolphin from the Dolphin Tale movies.

First of all the admission was pricey $21.95 for adults.  When we got there the place was very confusing to maneuver since they were under construction. We couldn't park in the main lot because they were very crowded , but at least out spot wasn't too far away.  At the front entrance was the snack bar that led to the front door. This place is a lot smaller than I envisioned.

It was extremely hot, and only the bottom where the gift store is was air conditioned. On that level was a small animal hospital. When you head left you're met by a small tank with stingrays for petting.  That was nice. A bit further and you see a medium sized tank with one sea turtle in it. I think they named her Mavis. Then in another medium sized tank you can see an underwater view of the  Winter the dolphin.  Then you head up the stairs to the second floor.

And there in the middle was a tank with Winter the Dolphin. I envisioned the tanks much larger and seats for many since this was the star! But no, the tank really wasn't all that big. It was circled by a gate, that unless you were one of the lucky few who had gotten a seat (there weren't that many!) you really couldn't see much of anything. There were two employees interacting with winter, but there microphones were so low you couldn't make out anything they were saying. And since it was so crowded, you really couldn't see what was going on either. I was very, very disappointed! I couldn't get one good picture of the dolphin. Also upstairs were a few very, very small rooms that they said were classrooms. a few otters in a tank by themselves, and the Pelican from the movie. Did I mention this place was so very small?

Outside  they had another medium sized tank with stingrays that you could pet. If you look down from the platform you can see another place for underwater viewing. This one was for smaller sharks.
I was so very disappointed in this place. Knowing how adored the Dolphin Tale movies were they should be offering more activities or shows, especially for the price they were charging. They at least could have more seating and make it easier for all to see Winter since that's why people are here in the first place Besides . They did offer a free visit of their movie set. But you had to wait in the heat for the next trolley to take you since it was down the road from this facility. We didn't take them up on this offer, it was too hot.

So sorry Clearwater  Marine Aquarium. I cant recommend you yo my readers. I've even overheard some of your patrons remarking that they would probably see more animals if they just went to the beach. If you want to go to an aquarium I recommend the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. You  get your moneys worth there with loads of animals to see, and its air conditioned!

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY- KIDZ BOP/CRAZY 8 TALENT SEARCH

Hello all,

I just ran across a great contest from one of my affiliate partners crazy 8/gymboree.  I just wanted to share, it looks like a great opportunity!

Crazy 8 is joining The KIDZ BOP Kids on their "Life Of The Party" concert tour as an official sponsor. To kick off the partnership, KIDZ BOP and Crazy 8 announced today that they are launching a Talent Search where one lucky kid will win the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to star in a KIDZ BOP music video and receive a $250 Crazy 8 shopping spree. Parents can visit KIDZBOP.com/talentsearch to see rules and enter their child. The popular children's apparel retailer—known for its cool styles for a steal—will also debut the first-ever fashion capsule collection of pop star looks inspired by KIDZ BOP this November.

Beginning today, through August 31, 2016, parents or legal guardians of children ages 14 and under can enter their child in the KIDZ BOP + Crazy 8 Talent Search online, or visit one of the five live audition stops at malls throughout the country. For online entries, parents can upload a 60-second video of their child's talent to YouTube.com and then visit KIDZBOP.com/talentsearchto submit their URL. Live auditions will be held on the following dates at the below shopping locations, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.:

• July 23: Newport Centre, Jersey City, NJ
• July 30: The Avenues, Jacksonville, FL
• August 6: West Town Mall, Knoxville, TN
• August 13: Brea Mall, Brea, CA
• August 20: Ingram Park Mall, San Antonio, TX

Ten finalists from all submissions (in malls and online) will be selected on September 7, 2016 by a panel of judges from KIDZ BOP and Crazy 8. From there, fans will be encouraged to support their favorite videos. The KIDZ BOP Kids will help select one Grand Prize winner, who will be announced on October 3, 2016. The grand prize will be a trip for two to Hollywood, a feature in an upcoming KIDZ BOP music video, and a $250 Crazy 8 shopping spree. 

Good Luck everyone!

<a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=891325&u=1328149&m=46239&urllink=&afftrack=">Learn More About the Crazy8 and Kidz Bop Sponsorship</a>

SPOTLIGHT STORY- GREG SMITHWICK FROM SO LOCAL PASCO

Hello all,

Today my Spotlight story is about  Greg smithwick. He is the owner of Spare Room Studio Inc., and producer, writer and host of the podcast and blog So Local Pasco. Here is his story:

Greg has worked in radio broadcasting across the Tampa Bay Area, in formats ranging from classical to oldies, to talk radio.  He is an accomplished radio commercial producer, voicing and writing hundreds of original radio ads and promotional spots. He and Joebucsfan.com publisher Steve Isbitts had the first national soccer talk related radio show in the U.S. during the 90s.  Soccer Friendly Radio was heard in 18 cities, from Miami to San Jose.

He works from Spare Room Studio, Inc...Which is LITERALLY a spare room in his home.  His idea was to simplify systems, and create a broadcast quality program with low overhead and an organic, LOCAL feel.  The Studio runs on a seven year old PC, and mostly analog audio gear.  This is what gives the show an authentic feel...That it is being made by an old broadcaster, who knows the tools are less important than the ideas and words.  While he strives for technical excellence, he is learning that sound quality is really only important to OTHER media people. His goal is to create a network of broadcast quality news and information programs for web and streaming distribution.

So Local Pasco is a daily (Mon thru Friday) podcast, usually under 20 minutes in length.  The podcast covers news, culture, events, and music in WEST Pasco County. Greg defines “So Local Pasco” country as county line to county line, from the US41 corridor to Anclote Keys in the Gulf. In its first month, the solocalpasco.com website garnered 1800 page views, which showed that there was a need and desire for a new form of media delivery in West Pasco County.  As of July 28th, 2016, his monthly page views have shot up over 4,000. A result of more directly challenging programs related to local government. Between the website, the subscriptions to the podcast via iTunes and other streaming services, and Facebook and Twitter, So Local Pasco is positioned to be one of the foremost providers of LOCAL content in Pasco County. If you are involved in a charitable effort, or a community service effort, we will cover your efforts. If you are a self promoting band or musician, we will do our best to cover you. If you have a story idea, you can contact him at :



WEB-

www.solocalpasco.com
Facebook:

Greg Smithwick
So Local Pasco page

Phone:

(727)859-8537

E Mail:

gregsmithwick@gmail.