Friday, May 25, 2012

Medieval Times Memorial Day Weekend Special + Giveaway #rafflecopter



Memorial Day weekend is the perfect way to spend time with your family and friends. While we honor those who have died in war, it is also an opportunity to cherish those who are still with us today. Creating memories and spending quality time with the ones you love is very necessary.

This weekend will be filled with celebrations both big and small. From cookouts to parades and festivals to gatherings at a relative's home to feast on delicious food from the grill, there is plenty of fun to be had. Why not include a bit of jousting, cheering and dinner to your schedule?
Medieval Times is kicking off the Memorial Day weekend with a great deal for their Hanover, MD location.
Jumpstart the summer with the lowest prices of the season to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. Enjoy the new two-hour show and a four-course medieval feast for $34.95* for adults and $29.95* for kids 12 and under. This special offer at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Hanover is valid for all shows Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28. Call 1-888-WE-JOUST (935-6878) or visit www.MedievalTimes.com for information and reservations.
My family and I had the chance to preview the ALL NEW SHOW back in April. It was my first time attending and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.


The fact that I was able to use my hands in place of utensils scored major bonus points with me. I like the assortment of food as well and how it was served on a schedule. Of course the show was exciting as well. Our family definitely took advantage of the freedom to express by yelling and shouting. It almost felt like I was watching television in the comfort of my own home. Nothing beats this relaxing approach.



The Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Maryland Castle, located at Arundel Mills in Hanover, MD, wants to invite you and your family to experience their highly entertaining show. All you have to do is follow the instructions below, cross your fingers and wait for your name to be called.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to US Residents age 18+. Tickets are valid at the Arundel Mills location only (7000 Arundel Mills Circle Hanover, MD). Not valid on New Year's Eve. Winner will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim their prize. Winner contacts the client directly to make a reservation for their family.


Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament’s Maryland Castle is located at Arundel Mills – 7000 Arundel Mills Circle Hanover, MD. Medieval Times is North America’s most popular dinner attraction and Anne Arundel County’s Celebration Destination.

*Mention code: MDWWEB at the time of purchase. Plus tax and processing fee. Not valid on prior purchases or gift certificates. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Advance reservations and payment required. Only valid Memorial Day Weekend.




Pin It

Disclosure Information
There was no monetary compensation for writing this post. The tickets for the giveaway are being provided by the sponsor. The opinions and views are my own.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

General Mills Wants Me! Say What?! #BTFE



This is me a few weeks ago, sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, cutting out Box Tops for Education®. The end of the school year is approaching quickly, so I wanted to help my son's school finish strong and obtain their goal of raising $1,500. On this particular day, I cut 350 tiny rectangular pieces, separated them into bags of 50 and sent them to school with Kaden. A free $35 is not so bad!!



***The Box Tops for Education® Blogger Panel!***


Not only am I excited for this opportunity, I am also honored to be selected. There are a lot of people on this place we call the "blogosphere" and I was fortunate enough to be called upon.

Kaden's education has always been important to his father and me. We allow him to explore and use his creative avenues to venture through the world. It is important that we remain active, present and support our community in order to strengthen the school systems responsible for educating the youth. Box Tops for Education® are a great asset to this process.

While I have a great love for Box Tops, there is still a lot to learn. I want to absorb all the knowledge I can in order to maximize the rewards for our local schools.

They say "there is no such thing as a free lunch". Well if I have my way, I'll make sure our schools get pretty darn close to free. 

I am truly blessed to be a part of this panel.


I hope you will stick around and join me on this wonderful journey.

Disclosure Information
I am a member of the Box Tops for Education® Blogger Panel. General Mills is covering all associated costs including airfare, hotel, and transportation. The opinions and views are my own. 
 

Wordless Wednesday - FREE Slurpee at 7-Eleven



The Great Snake Debate


"You know, Mom. This project is suppose to be simple. I don't really have to do this much."

With those words, I knew Kaden was trying to pull a fast one on me.
He had more important things to do, like run up the score on his favorite basketball and soccer video game. Or pull apart a Lego set that he spent hours building...just for the fun of it.

I wasn't having it!

"Do your best!" It's what his father and I always stress to him.
Not perfection, but YOUR best.
Go the extra mile.
Put yourself in a position to be ahead, then you'll never feel the need to play catch up.

Besides, teachers notice when a student dedicates their time wholly and makes an extra effort.
They always remember. Always.

The assignment was to fill out a facts sheet on a reptile found in the state of Maryland.
Kaden chose the Eastern King Snake. Ewww!
Couldn't he have chosen a frog?!

For a few days, we visited the local library so that he could research his reptile.


Once he completed this part of the project, it was time to draw a picture.
Being the creative person I am, I suggested he use construction paper instead of drawing. We have a lot of craft supplies thanks to Elmer's, so I figured we should take advantage of our resources.

We ran into a slight problem with the construction paper.
There was no green paper.
I put on my thinking cap and suggested Kaden color the yellow construction paper with a green marker.
It worked like a charm.


After ripping and tearing tiny pieces of green and yellow construction paper to mimic a grassy area, it was time to draw an Eastern King Snake.

Kaden used the iPad to research the features of this reptile.
He wanted to make sure his drawing was accurate.



After tweaking and putting the final touches on his project, this is what Kaden prepared to turn into his teacher the next day.


Just lovely!

And after all of that complaining, moaning and groaning, he came home a couple of weeks later to show me his final grade.


He didn't come right out and say I was right for making him go the extra mile, but I could tell from his mile that he appreciated my advice.

I only wants what's best for him because I know he's capable of greatness.

Don't ever let your child(ren) settle for less.


Pin It
 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bullying Looks Like This



I bet you didn't know that my son has to be moved to his team's side of the field to avoid the risk of hearing comments from the other sideline. What a shame? It's like having to move your desk to the far corner of a classroom because the person behind you keeps pulling your hair.

BULLY!

I bet you didn't know that when we played this team a few seasons ago, one of their players was overheard saying, "We're suppose to pretend like he (Kaden) kicked us and fall so he gets the call."

BULLY!

And the very next time (back in November 2011) we played them, this is what the SAME PLAYER was seen doing...


If you notice, he didn't get the call. Does he look familiar at all?!

I bet you didn't know this team throws themselves in front of my son, falls, then asks the referee that he be carded. Obviously you have to call a foul. Obviously you'll get a card after a few warnings. But if the calls are a result of dramatic and animated flops, falls, and stumbles, how are they relevant?

BULLY!

We all know what happened at Sunday's game. But that was just my word.

I don't have the footage before this video below. I actually stopped recording for awhile because the referee WAS doing a great job of letting the boys play soccer (and I was too busy recording someone from our organization "looking for trouble"). I have bits and pieces from the day. I only record when I think someone is approaching a goal (and my battery was on it's last leg).

Here's how it all went down...

Apparently, Kaden and the other boy collided. Of course the boy milked it. It was his 2,754th time on the ground. I have other footage showing other players from our team colliding with him and he just keeps playing. They weren't Kaden, so the boy didn't care much. Hmmm...wonder why?!

It looks to me as if the referee is over this whole "injury" thing as he quickly motions them to please come and get him so we can go on with the game.

Once the game is stopped, the Cape St. Claire coach (black shirt) and the boy's parents (who were NOT suppose to go on the field) ran to his rescue. You would have thought it was life-threatening.

On the way on the field, she says "Goddamnit" (around 0:12). Before heading off, she turns to Kaden and says, "Goddamnit. You little bastard!" (around 0:18). The father is pointing at Kaden too. The coach turns around as if he's walking back our way. Not sure what he was doing!!

You can hear someone from our sideline say, "Hey!" I think it was our coach.

You can hear Ian erupt and people trying to convince him it's not worth it and to calm down. Ha! Easy for you to say...

I'm in shock. All I can offer is "oh my gosh" because I don't know if I should cry (which I did) or go postal on these pathetic people.




Did you see how they all returned to their sideline comfortably?
Did you see how no one really said anything to them?

If Ian and I had gone out on that field and done the exact, same thing, we'd be asked to leave. It would have been a much bigger issue.

But that would never happen. For one, Kaden doesn't fake his injuries. And if he does get hurt on the field, he keeps playing or waits until he comes out of the game. He's a fighter, just as his name implies. It's soccer for crying out loud. Get with it or get out.

We have footage on other cameras that I'll have to watch. But even this snippet makes my blood boil.

To makes matters worse, here's another element to this saga.

Someone from our side had something to say the entire time the game was going on. I'm wondering if she even saw any of the game.

She ranted about:
  • how good such-n-such was (loudly, in our direction and purposely omitting Kaden's name),
  • how I was "nasty"(because I actually have the balls to say something back instead of being all chummy with you like others).
  • how she was upset about a sign that was made with just Kaden's name. See first bullet. /\ (and? Did we not use enough glitter? He is #1. SHE ordered the uniform. Duh!)
  • how she is doing so much for us (and when is the last time I talked or worked with you?)
Puh-lease. I saw her true colors the moment she sat there and said nothing when my son, the one she is "doing so much for", was attacked on the field.

She did have enough energy to get in Ian's face though...and anyone else she thought was with me, based on her assumptions. Clearly all black people must know each other. We do all look alike, you know?

Regardless of what anyone else said to her, one has nothing to do with the other. She cannot group everyone together. Society does a good enough job of that already.

Was she representing the entire organization when she was participating in arguing...on the sideline...sharing information from personal emails?

She threw her professionalism out the door the moment she opened her mouth to say anything other than, "Sorry to hear about what's happening. I just want you to know that I'm doing as much as I can to help. I hope we can resolve this issue."

But she spent most of her time provoking.
Instigating.
Reporting.
Interviewing.
Banning. <~~~ This was her mission the entire time. I hear she has a thing for having people pushed out of the organization. Ahem!
You'd be surprise at who talks. ;-)

She may have been working on this situation because she was asked by the coach, but she's not doing me/US any favors.
It's her job. Volunteer or not. 
SHE SIGNED UP FOR IT (and signed some sort of contract and code of conduct in which she tried to point out to us).

She was NEVER on OUR side...if you know what I mean.

But I know someone who just might be.
The law.


What's this thing about harassment?
Equality?
Bullying?

I know a person or ten who make be able to clear up a few things about this.

Try me!!

No one came to the realization that:
  • If the bullies from their side had not said a word to my child and 
  • If the situation was handled when it was first presented seasons ago
NONE of this would have happened. NOTHING AT ALL!

Instead they focused on us (I'm assuming black people can be scary at times).
Shake in those boots. 


Not only do we have to fight the other side, but we have to be careful who we can trust on our own side as well.
Friends close, enemies closer...huh?


On a brighter note:


The rest of our games are a breeze. 
Good, clean fun.
Isn't it ironic?



 By the way, our team won.
Three goals to their one.


Kaden scored two.
He's good like that...and we don't need confirmation from ANYONE.


Imagine if he actually practiced...

Ha!!

{Mama needs a drink!}

 
#dsq-content #dsq-comments li.dsq-comment { display: list-item !important; list-style: decimal !important; }