WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, March 17-18 & 24-25

TIME: 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: 12210 83^rd St. E., Parrish, FL 34219

CALLING ALL SLEUTHS!

Help our favorite No. 1 engine find the clues and solve the mystery! Thomas the Tank Engine is pulling into the Florida Railroad Museum for Day Out With Thomas: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012.

This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a 25-minute ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities and games. They’ll also get to meet Sir Topham Hatt, controller of the Railway.

Kids can chug on through the Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts and crafts, train tables and coloring sheets.

Get on the fast track and get your tickets today for storytelling, video viewing, live music and all the Thomas activities you can blow a train whistle at.

Tickets for Day Out with Thomas: The Mystery Tour 2012 are on sale now and available by calling Ticketweb toll-free 866-468-7630, or by visiting the museum’s website. Ticket prices are $18 plus tax for ages 2 and up (service charges and fee may apply). For more information and directions, contact the museum at 941-776-0906 or on its website.

It’s time to start thinking about what to get your Valentine. Give your honey something that drips of cuteness this year with a mini photo session of the little bee’s all decked out and swarming with love.

South 2^nd Photography is offering a great mini session on Feb. 4. Its Tutus and Ties mini session is for one to two people only and includes 10 digital images with print release.

“I love South 2^nd Photography! I typically get major anxiety when it’s picture time for my kids. So much so that most of their milestone photos are about two months past the milestone. I fret on if they will smile, or melt down or get dirty before the perfect pic is snapped.

My session with South 2^nd has redeemed my faith in ever getting adorable pictures of my kids. Cassie is beyond amazing with them and her comfort and relaxed attitude permeates over to anxious parents. She’s brilliant with them and her shots are awesome and creative. Her easy breezy attitude combo’d with her professionalism made my photo-anxiety melt away,” Jenny Fauser, PLAYGROUND Magazine.

If you want the perfect picture of your little Valentine’s this year, book your Tutus and Ties mini session with South 2^nd Photography today. The 20 – 30 minute photo session of bliss will be shot at Highland Manor in Apopka, located at 604 E. Main St., and is being offered for the affordable price of $95.

ADVERTORIAL

The Amaya Papaya PLAYZONE

Amaya Papaya is sponsoring the PLAYZONE at this years Zora Festival in Eatonville, FL, on Friday January 27 - Sunday January 29. The Zora Festival celebrates the life and achievements of of Zora Neal Hurston, the writer and folklorist and also celebrates her historic hometown of Eatonville. The festival is a multi-day event that appeals to the young and old.  With the help of Amaya Papaya, the young will definitely have the most fun in the designated PLAYZONE.

The PLAYZONE is fun and educational for children ages 0-5. The Hungerford gymnasium will be transformed into an interactive play area. Children will enjoy learning through hands on discovery, role playing, and parent/child interaction. Imagination will come to life on play structures and creatively themed play stations.

But that’s not all! Families can also try their hand at African drumming and zumbatonic, relax during story time, and get artistic with face painting and crafts. There will also be character greetings, child safety kits, and a Zora Initiative book giveaway sponsored by The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County.

Check out the Amaya Papaya PLAYZONE schedule for more details and the Zora Festival schedule for hours.

The holidays have come to a close, but the season of giving doesn’t have to! Join the  Oviedo Mall and Hope Helps Inc. as they sponsor the biggest food drive…EVER! Running all month long through January 29th, you can bring your non-perishable food items to the Oviedo Mall for drop off. The donation area is right next to the Shoe Department located by Sears.

If you want to do even more, become a volunteer. Volunteer shifts are every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The hours vary. It’s definitely a great way to help the community, earn service hours, spend time volunteering as a family, or just have some fun. Email volunteer@hopehelps.org for more info.

With your help and food donations, over 300 local families a week will be fed. If finding the time to visit the Oviedo Mall is a challenge, donating online is another great option. Visit the HOPE website for more information.

A new study by Cornell University concluded that parents of picky eaters can encourage their children to eat more nutritionally diverse diets by introducing more color to their meals. The study finds that food plates with seven different items and six different colors are particularly appealing to children.

“What kids find visually appealing is very different than what appeals to their parents,” said Brian Wansink, professor of Marketing in Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. “Our study shows how to make the changes so the broccoli and fish look tastier than they otherwise would to little Casey or little Audrey.”

The study is published in the January issue of Acta Paediatrica (101:1). For more information about adding color and variety to children’s plates, visit:  http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/outreach/child-plate.html

Need more help? Here are 10 nutritional tips for parents from a local Certified Nutritional Consultant:

1. Set a positive example — your children learn from you.  Shop together, try new foods and recipes together, and above all else, eat together.
2. Offer a variety of foods, and allow your children to develop a taste for new and different foods.
3. Start with small portions. A proper child’s portion is ¼ to ½ of the size of an adult portion.
4. Don’t insist that children finish all the food on their plate.  Let your child develop internal cues in determining fullness—to eat when hungry and to stop when full. Don’t praise a clean plate.
5. Limit starchy snacks in-between meals that lead to calorie overload and disinterest in real food.  Aim for 1-2 wholesome snacks per day, spaced out 2 hours or more before a meal.
6. Balance snacks to include a protein and a starch. For example, add peanut butter to a whole grain cracker to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
7. Create a relaxing atmosphere for meal times. Turn off the television and the cell phones. Promote family conversation, and do not rush. Teach your children to respect the sanctity of eating together.
8. Don’t use food as a reward. Instead, show your love with attention and kind words.
9. Get your children to bed on time. Missing out on sleep disrupts your child’s hormonal balance, increasing the hormones that make them hungry while decreasing the hormones that make them feel full.
10. Keep your kids moving … especially away from the television and computer screen. The simple act of natural outdoor play is all the exercise a young child should need, and it encourages healthy, real-world relationships.

Carol Cottrill is a Certified Nutritional Consultant with a bachelor’s degree in holistic nutrition from the Clayton College of Natural Health.  She runs her nutrition practice out of her Winter Park, FL offices.  She is a frequent contributor to Dr. Mehmet Oz’s ShareCare website, as well as The Body Checklist, a site recently launched by the nationally syndicated Daily Buzz show.  Carol will also soon be a published author, as her book, The French Twist, is nearing production with a NYC publishing house. For more information please visit www.carolcottrill.com

Leisa Lovely Designs offers great personalized team spirit apparel for practically every team you can ponder, along with super-cute personalized gifts for everyone from baby to Granny. With a gift from Leisa Lovely, this year’s stocking stuffers will have personalized written all over it.

One winner will be chosen at random, every day at 4 p.m. We will notify the winner via email and on this homepage … so be sure to check back at 4:05 to see if you’ve won! Winners will be mailed their prize.

Thanks for playing PLAYGROUND’S 10 Giveaway Days of Christmas! Happy Holidays! xoxo

The 2011 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is returning to Orlando December 17 and 18.

Featuring thousands of dogs and over 100 booths, little ears will perk up as over 150 breeds of dogs show their stuff. With doggie apparel galore, you’ll be able to get everything needed to stuff a stocking for that special pet-lover in your family.

Don’t miss the world’s smartest and most agile canines, competing in the AKC National Obedience Invitational and AKC Agility Invitational!

If you’ve always been curious what all the “howling” is about, get your tickets online today and check out the 2011 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

If you’re a first time spectator, here are a few tips to best enjoy the day:

• If the grooming area is open to spectators, visit it and talk with professional groomers to get tips on keeping your dog looking his best.
• However tempting, do not pet a dog without asking for permission first. The dog may have just been groomed in preparation for being judged.
• At each dog show, you will find vendors and information booths. Many club booths offer helpful information to the general public.
• Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Unless you bring a chair or arrive early, be prepared to stand most of the time, as seating is usually limited.
• If you are considering getting a purebred dog, talk to the breeders and exhibitors – they are experts in their breeds
• If you bring a baby stroller to a dog show, be careful that you do not run over any dog’s tail, and that your child does not grab or poke the dogs she can reach. Avoid having them near ring entrances, which are especially crowded. Some shows prohibit baby strollers.

2011 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

Orange County Convention Center – West Bldg.

9800 International Dr., Orlando

Ticket Options for Saturday & Sunday:

Daytime Ticket: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult: $20; Children: 2 -12: $5; Under 2: free

Evening Ticket: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

All seats: $20

Post below the coolest birthday party theme you’ve ever seen for the chance to win four passes to the place where everyday is your birthday. One winner will be chosen at random at 4 p.m. We will notify the winner via email and on this homepage … so be sure to check back at 4:05 to see if you’ve won! You can enter every day, so if you don’t win today, keep on trying, you’ve still got one more day to win on PLAYGROUND’S 10 Giveaway Days of Christmas! Winners will be mailed their prize.

Birthday World: 995 N. State Rd. 434, Altamonte Springs 407-657-2000

www.birthdayworldorlando.com

]]> http://www.playground-magazine.com/2011/12/playgrounds-9th-giveaway-day-of-christmas/feed/ http://www.playground-magazine.com/2011/12/playgrounds-8th-giveaway-day-of-christmas/ http://www.playground-magazine.com/2011/12/playgrounds-8th-giveaway-day-of-christmas/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:00:33 +0000 jennyfauser http://www.playground-magazine.com/?p=13456 ‘Tis the Season to grab lunch with the pals. Hop on over to TooJay’s for delectable deli and a little time with friends. Try the Reuben or its homemade chicken noodle soup. After you’re done, treat yourself to one of the yummy desserts behind that tempting glass counter.

Give us the dish on your favorite local spot for GNO by posting a comment below, and sink your teeth into this chance to win a $25 gift certificate from the Original Gourmet Deli, TooJay’s. One winner will be chosen at random at 4 p.m. We will notify the winner via email and on this homepage … so be sure to check back at 4:05 to see if you’ve won! You can enter every day, so if you don’t win today, keep on trying, there are still two more fabulous gifts to giveaway on PLAYGROUND’S 10 Giveaway Days of Christmas! Winners will be mailed their prize.

www.toojays.com