Love Cheesecake? It's National Cheesecake Day July 30

By Becky Beall

Who doesn't love cheesecake? I can't think of a better reason to partake than National Cheesecake Day which is July 30th.  Boy, have I found a deal to share with you!

 

The Cheesecake Factory is offering a special deal for dine-in guests only (valid July 30th and 31st) to celebrate the special occasion. Any slice half price for everyone at your table (none to go). Only one slice per guest and each guest must be present.

 

Also, making it's debut on National Cheesecake Day, The Factory presents Lemon Meringue Cheesecake! I don't know about your family, but this could be a great night out for desserts at my house.

 

Are you a fan? Head on over to The Cheesecake Factory's official Facebook page and give it a LIKE! You never know what they'll post next! https://www.facebook.com/thecheesecakefactory?fref=photo

Atlanta's American Girl Store Provides Awesome Events

By Becky Beall

Is there an American Girl fan in your house? If you answered yes, then check out these events (most of which are FREE) for girls ages 8 and up at the Atlanta location of the popular boutique!

Doll ’Dos & How-Tos: Jewel Highlights

Your girl can learn tips and tricks for giving her doll a one-of-a-kind look! Our Doll Hair Salon stylists will show lots of ways to style her doll’s hair using our new Jewel Highlights Set, three gem-toned, clip-in hair colors made just for My American Girl® dolls. Your girl will get hands-on tips from our experts—and she’ll get to take the highlights home! Reservations required.

Summer Fun Celebration

Get set for sun and fun! During this event, your girl will enjoy a delicious meal, join in colorful activities, and make tropical crafts—including a mini beach tote for her doll. Plus, she’ll take home a special American Girl book and a set of Crayola® Fabric Markers! Reservations required.

Summer Reading Bookmark Craft

Celebrate summer reading with American Girl! At this craft event, your girl will decorate her own bookmark and summer reading log to keep track of all the great books she’ll read over break. Includes a doll-sized poster to take home. Free and open to the public.

This is only a small sampling of the MANY events ongoing at the American Girl store located in Alpharetta (an Atlanta suburb). Check out the web site for all events, dates, times, etc. http://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_atl.php#specialEvents

IF YOU GO…

North Point Mall

1202 North Point Circle

Alpharetta, GA 30022

For events that require reservations, please call 877-247-5223

Tax Free Weekend in Alabama Set for Aug. 1-3

By Becky Beall

Tax Free weekend in Alabama will begin August 1 and run through midnight on August 3 to help parents, students and other shoppers prepare for back-to-school 2014. This shopping extravaganza will give shoppers an opportunity to purchase school supplies and other items without sales tax.

 

What does that include? Some of the tax free items are school supplies $50 and under, clothing items under $100, computers (and some other electronics) under $750 and required textbooks that are more than $30 but less than $50. This is, of course, an abbreviated list, but a detailed list of items included for tax free weekend may be found at http://revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.  Not every city and county are participating, so check out this site, also, to find out the cities and counties that will be participating in the tax-free holiday.

 

This is the perfect time to combine sales, coupons and rebates with no sales tax and come out a real winner for your family's finances. Happy shopping!

Pensacola - More than a Beach!

By Becky J. Beall

This season brings visions of sun and sand, as summer vacation plans start to become more than passing thoughts. The Gulf Coast has many beautiful offerings, one of which is award-winning Pensacola, Florida, where there is so much more than a beach!

Pensacola comes by the nickname “The City of Five Flags” quite honestly, having changed hands more than a dozen times in some 450 years to include flags from Spain, France, England, the Confederacy and the Unites States. Each of these ownerships left strong influences on the seaside community that today are evident through architecture, history, museums and culinary delights.

Downtown Pensacola is only a short drive from the beach area and is absolutely worth the time to meander through the revitalized district. Park your car and stroll down the sidewalks ducking in and out of eclectic boutiques, cafes, art galleries and more! More than 130 new businesses have opened within the last five years as part of the renaissance this downtown has experienced. Wrought iron balconies and street lamps offer a bit of a New Orleans feel – probably because both have similar histories with multiple country influences as part of their heritage.

Three don’t miss activities in downtown…

Joe Patti’s Seafood Market is a Pensacola icon having been there since the 1930s. Ranked the third best seafood market in the United States, this family-owned and operated establishment offers a gigantic assortment of fresh fish selections and a unique gourmet market featuring fresh baked breads, sushi and even gelato! Steamed shrimp is a popular to-go item (of course with a loaf of delicious garlic bread).

A quick (hour and a half) walking tour of the historic district is full of fun facts and great period-furnished homes from the Colonial era to the Victorian age. On this inexpensive guided Historic Pensacola Village Tour, you’ll visit one of the oldest churches in Florida and see first-hand some living history examples of life in the old days.

The most exciting way to tour downtown Pensacola is with Emerald Coast Tours on bicycles or Segways! Nick and Rick are extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and map out their tours to encompass breathtaking views of the bay. Their humor mixed with city facts provides an awesome venue for family fun!

Sand and sun…

Pensacola Beach features famous sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters dotted with sea oats and wildlife. The area is a little less crowded than other popular vacation destinations along the panhandle, yet they still have all the amenities a family needs to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation. There are companies and areas that provide canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as boat rentals and sailing opportunities. For more information on all of these outdoor activities, check out www.visitpensacola.com.

Where to stay…

Accommodations in Pensacola are much like other similar areas in that they have many great hotels along with condos for those who like a little extra room to cook in the unit, do their laundry and spread out. For hotels, the Hilton Pensacola Beach is spectacular! Rooms are spacious and the hotel’s list of amenities is lengthy including: Bonsai Sushi Bar, H2O Cajun-Asian Grill, beach service, water sports, spa/salon, two outdoor pools and one indoor, whirlpool, children’s programs (seasonal), fitness center and more! It is within walking distance to popular restaurants, shopping and activities.

Portofino Island Resort is a lovely choice for families looking to make their home away from home in a roomy, luxury condo. Not only are rooms larger than normal condo units, but you will enjoy all the amenities of home…washer/dryers, gourmet kitchens, lots of closet space and beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico or the Santa Rosa Sound. Each tower has its own pool and whirlpool so no overcrowding issues! The resort is Mediterranean style with gorgeous architecture and tons of added amenities such as the spa, fitness center and on-site tennis courts!

Culinary delights…

As with any beach town, there are restaurants that are too good to miss and Pensacola is no exception! Lunch favorites include:

·       Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille (South Palafox St) – flatbread pizzas and small plates with gorgeous views of the yachts in the Palafox Marina and Plaza de Luna Park.

·       Al Fresco – fabulous food trucks in downtown (at Palafox and Main). Choose from Cajun food, tacos, barbeque, the Greenhouse or Gouda Stuff Gourmet Melts (the classic grilled cheese hits the lunch spot just right).

Dinner selections are plentiful including these popular eateries:

·       H2O – Celebrity Chef Dan Dunn throws a Cajun-Asian spin on some seafood favorites that are simply to die for! Check it out inside the Hilton Pensacola Beach.

·       Red Fish Blue Fish – a new restaurant (across from the Hilton, sound-side) with food as good as the ambiance. Eat under the stars in their waterfront backyard and enjoy local, fresh seafood with southern-inspired ingredients. (HINT: Yum Fish Dinner is the bomb!)

·       The Grand Marlin – definitely a grand choice! Watch the sunset and enjoy the catch of the day at this fairly new restaurant on Pensacola Beach Blvd at the causeway.

·       The Fish House – upscale dockside dining (South Barracks St) at its best featuring picturesque views and innovative recipes using seafood favorites and house-smoked steaks. Chef Jim Shirley is one of the five Pensacola Celebrity Chefs who presented their culinary treats at the James Beard House in New York City in March of 2013 for the third consecutive year. The dish to have is the Grits a Ya Ya – a world-famous southern dish of smoked Gouda cheese grits smothered in a sauce of fresh cream, sautéed Gulf shrimp, spinach, Portobello mushrooms, applewood-smoked bacon, garlic and shallots!

When planning your summer beach vacation, think about the Pensacola Beach area. Loaded with arts and culture, lots of adventure and beautiful beaches, you really can’t ask for more.

If you go…

Emerald Coast Tours

5 W. Main Street, Pensacola

850-417-9292

www.EmeraldCoastTours.net

Hilton Pensacola Beach

12 Via De Luna Dr., Pensacola Beach, FL 32561

850-776-4695

http://hiltonpensacolabeach.com

Historic Pensacola Village Tour

205 E. Zaragosa Street, Pensacola

850-595-5985

www.historicpensacola.org

Joe Patti’s Seafood Market

524 B. Street, Pensacola

850-432-3315

www.joepattis.com

Portofino Island Resort

10 Portofino Drive, Pensacola Beach

850-916-5000

http://www.portofinoisland.com/

Getting there is half the fun in this family-friendly SUV!

2014 Lexus LX570 SUV
Fuel Economy: 12/17
Class: Standard SUV
Base Price: $81,780

Lexus makes this family vehicle for those in pursuit of happy travels with lots of space and added amenities including a premium Mark Levinson Audio System with an impressive 19 speakers and a dual-screen DVD Rear Entertainment System with wireless headphones.

The engine fully accommodates this extra-large Lexus with 383-hp in a 5.7-liter V8 package. So while you give up a little in the fuel economy department, you gain the power to jump out in traffic and negotiate the highways like a boss!

My favorite features of this vehicle include:
Bluetooth and Navigation – two must haves for this traveling mom.
Beautiful wood trim in the interior cabin of the SUV.
Heated and ventilated seats.
Rain sensing wipers (love love love this!).
Overall safety features from the multitude of airbags to the tire pressure monitoring.

Don’t let the massive size of this Lexus fool you, it drives well and handles with typical Lexus style. It’s perfect for this travel mom who loves the space and luxury, if she has the budget.

What is "Secondary" Drowning?

By Carol Muse Evans

You may have heard stories in the news recently about children drowning after leaving the water, called  “secondary,” or “dry” drowning.  Can this really happen? Should you be concerned?

“Yes,” says Dr. Heather Mitchell, Emergency Medicine physician at Children’s of Alabama, “but it is extremely rare.”

While thousands of children drown each year in the United States, Mitchell says, only 1 to 2 percent of drownings occur as secondary – after a child leaves the water.  “Secondary drowning can happen hours after a child has had a near-drowning event in the water,” Mitchell explains.  “It occurs when a large amount of weather gets into the lungs and edema (fluid buildup in lungs) takes over later.

 “The three big symptoms of distress with fluid in the lungs are breathing difficulty, fatigue and mental or personality changes,” Mitchell adds. “But this happens when the child has taken in a large amount of water, having a near-drowning experience where they were under water for a longer period of time and/or had to be resuscitated, or had a brief period when they were not breathing.”

What should you do if you are concerned?  “A worried parent is always right,” Mitchell points out.  While there is no particular age susceptible to secondary drowning, you see it more frequently in children who are young and cannot express how they are feeling.  If in doubt, always seek the help of a medical professional, Mitchell added. 

There is no major treatment if large amounts of water are found in the lungs, she adds, but the child would be watched, given oxygen, etc. until the fluid passed.

-         

-           - Carol Muse Evans is publisher of Birmingham Parent.

·         For more information about general water safety, visit http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Water-Safety-And-Young-Children.aspx.

·         For more information about “secondary” drowning, visit  www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20140602/dry-drowning-faq.

6 Tips for Making "Cents" of Couponing

By Becky J. Beall

By now, you should be in the habit of buying Sunday papers to get all those wonderful coupons, and hopefully you’ve been turned on and tuned in to how much money you can save each week. I wanted to share some more couponing habits that will turn coupons into money in your household!

1.     Learn the lingo. BOGO means buy one get one. If someone says the coupon can be found in SS0622 that refers to your Sunday paper inserts Smart Source June 22 (remember I said write the date on the front page in Sharpie?). Likewise RP means Red Plum and PG means Proctor & Gamble. These are the ones you will see over and over.

2.     As you begin to stock up on things that are on sale and have coupons attached, you’ll start to change your shopping habits. Learn to shop for what’s on sale with coupons so you don’t run out and have to buy it at full price.

3.     Don’t panic if you miss a sale. Sale cycles are typically about every eight weeks. This will not be the only time for peanut butter to be on sale.

4.     There is a fabulous couponing blogsite that I follow and I want to introduce you to it as well. SouthernSavers.com is up-to-date on sales and gives you a heads up for what’s coming as well. Under the grocery store tab, I follow Publix because their BOGO Free sales combined with coupons simply cannot be beat.

5.     Think outside the box. CVS has an ExtraCare Card for shoppers that basically is a customer loyalty card. It is available at the register for no cost and you need to show it every time you make a purchase. You can earn ExtraCare Bucks (ECB) on certain items each week (you can see these items in their ad and on Southern Savers). The ECB can be spent on almost anything (exclusions are listed on their website and the ad, but almost anything). So let’s say toothpaste is on sale for $2.99 and you have a $1 off coupon making it $1.99 and they are offering a $2 ECB on that item. Remember to show your card first, then do your transaction, then coupons, then pay and your ECB will print on the bottom of your receipt. You can turn around and use the ECB to buy milk which is an item that rarely has a coupon. HINT: Southern Savers has a beginners guide to shopping at CVS video when you click the drugstore tab and then CVS. Good info!

6.     Relax and have fun. Learn in small doses so you don’t burn out. Saving money is easy and fun!

I hope you are learning something each week. I’m having fun watching you learn! Happy couponing!

Keep Home Safe While You're On Vacation

By Becky Beall

Vacation and traveling are times of excitement in most households, but that can quickly be brought to an abrupt ending when disaster strikes back home. It is so important to take adequate precautions when leaving your home unattended for any length of time. Below are some of my best tips for avoiding dangerous and disastrous situations while you are away.

• Turn off appliances and unplug electronics – you do not want to leave an opportunity for something to catch fire (faulty switches and sockets are a MAJOR cause of fires) and it saves a bit of electricity.

• Clean out the fridge! Who wants to come home to a stinky pile of leftovers and expired milk?

• Lock all windows and doors, especially double check sliding glass doors and secure with a broom handle or piece of wood for extra security. Most people leave a random door unlocked for emergencies so double check ALL windows and doors.

• Do NOT leave a spare key anywhere on the outside of your home. People know to look inside planters and under door mats.

• Stop your mail and paper service until you return.

• If you will be gone for an extended period, arrange for someone to cut the grass and keep up the appearance of someone being home.

• Have a neighbor take the trash receptacles to the street and return to their resting place in a timely manner.

• Store your values in a safety deposit box or safe within the home. Don’t leave them out for a thief to help himself to.

• Put lights and television on a timer so they will periodically come on and go off. This is a big deterrent for unwanted guests.

• Adjust the thermostat to a temperature that is a little warmer (in the summer) and a little cooler (in the winter) than you normally keep it to avoid large electric and gas bills while you are away.

• If you live in an extremely cold climate, turn off the water when you leave. If the electricity goes out while you’re gone, the pipes won’t freeze and burst. No one wants to come home to a flooded house!

• Take care of your furry friends! Cats are great at surviving on their own with lots of food and water left available. Continuously feeding water and food bowls are a great resource for them. Board dogs or have someone dependable check on them regularly.

• Talk to a “trusted” neighbor, let them know when you are leaving and returning, leave a spare key with them and an emergency phone number. Also, have them be on the lookout for “strange” activity…such as big trucks pulling up, anyone at the door, ask them to pick up any packages left by UPS, FedEx, etc.

• Do NOT broadcast to the world through social media that your entire family will be gone for two weeks to Europe! Everyone online is NOT YOUR FRIEND.

Use common sense. This isn’t rocket science! It is very common to get so caught up in the hype of preparing for vacation that we simply forget the necessities of preparing our homes for us to be away. A few minutes following these tips can save lots of money, time and danger.

For more travel tips, deals and info, check out www.thetravelvoicebybecky.com.