So these past three days we have been talking about Lunchables Field Trips For All Contest where Lunchables will be giving 50 classrooms the ultimate field trip! I hope by now you have gone over to lunchables.com to nominate a deserving classroom. I wanted to take one last day to promote the program and show you some video that was taken from the event. My two kids got a chance to ask Kevin Jonas two questions.......watch below to find out what they asked! (make sure you turn up your volume...the sound is pretty low)
Below you can also see some footage of the event as well as the lucky classroom that got to participate. Stay tuned Monday we're going to have a fun giveaway launching - where I am taking one of you on a field trip!! This should be a ton of fun and I am looking forward to hosting a lucky reader!! Watch Monday for more details!!
We arrived in Solvang later than planned, that was partly my fault for rushing through the planning. I had wanted to stop about every two hours and spend each night in a new place - but for some reason - we had a four hour drive to Solvang from Monterey and the coast line was just so beautiful we could not help but take our time. Right after leaving Monterey was the 17 mile drive - there was a $10 entrance fee and we sat there for a moment debating weather to do it or not - we really did not have the time, but Pebble Beach was in there as well as so many other wonderful spots that they have lined out for you. Let me tell you - I am so so happy that we paid the ten dollars, this was the most beautiful, scenic drive - and the sights & history you get to see more than made up for the $10! Then of course for the kids we had to stop along the beaches to see the sea lions - it's mating season, so they are all ashore - which was fun to watch! We finally arrive in Solvang fifteen minutes til six - right on time, but not time to rest! We checked in, made a restroom run and walked to the restaurant. When I walked in I felt like I was in a really fancy place. The lights we're dim (which is why there's no pics), it was small and very intimate, and in the corner were couches & a fireplace - fancy yet comfortable. We were the only ones there with kids - which made me feel a bit uncomfortable, especially since they placed us right in the middle of the room! HA! Most the others were older, retired folks enjoying a weekend getaway - luckily we sat next to a nice older couple who missed their grandkids so loved our kids! Whew! Dinner was superb! Although I don't think I ever waited so long for food - they were soooo slow!! My husband and I both had the bacon wrapped Fillet Mignon - yummy!! For desert we had the flourless chocolate cake - wow, not what I expected at all!! I guess I was expecting a dry, crumbly piece of cake. This tasted more like a rich moose more than anything - just melted in your mouth. By the time we got out of there it was probably closing in on eight - we we're all stuffed and the town was shut down for the night - so went back to our room to get some much needed sleep!
Just from looking at it you can get an idea that the bed was going to be awesome!! This is just what we needed after a week of traveling! The kids slept on the pull out sofa, and come morning I just did not want to get out of bed, and by the end of the day was wishing I would have taken advantage of some extra sleep!! The room was perfect for the four of us, had a gas fireplace, comfortable robes, and cartoons to keep the kids entertained.
We got up early knowing that we had to make the long trip home in the morning and had a couple other stops we wanted to make. The hotel serves a complete all you can eat breakfast in the morning - and I am not just talking toast & cereal. There was muffins, eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, coffee, oj, and so much more - again we got stuffed! After breakfast we gathered our stuff together, checked out and walked the town. I had been to Solvang once when I was about 18 and remember their danish pastries - could not leave town without a box!! I wish I would have taken a pic for you all of my pastries - yum yum and so pretty too!
My blog mostly runs reviews - and most of those products are products geared toward children. So who do you think plays with the product, wears the product or watches the product? My children and / or my husband & I are the ones who actually "review" the product. I can only review most products based on my thoughts as a parent, but the product has to also appeal to my child and be able to entertain them or do what ever it is that the product is intended to do. The review cannot be a full review without an opinion of the age bracket the item is intended for.
This is not a post intended to put down the PR companies and to say I am not grateful for being invited to so many wonderful events. All I am saying is that I am not Hula Hooping Mom - my kids, my husband AND myself create this very blog and the reviews you see and read here. This blog would not be the blog it is without them. I think PR companies as well as the companies that hold the events need to keep that in mind. My husband & children often wonder why they can't come along to some of these events - and I have to stop and think to myself the same. If you want to present a product - they are the ones you should be thinking about. They are the real reviewers - I just write the content! Above are the faces behind Hula Hooping Mom and how they feel being "left out"
There are two family suites available. This is really a great idea for families traveling with children but also want their private time. I was not really sure what to expect. In the picture below is the children's room, which is off to the side - with a closing door!! What's even cooler? They have a video game system inside the kids room!! You have to go to the front office to check out the games - which I would suggest doing upon check in so that the kids can keep busy while you're trying to unload the car. The only disappointing factor in this is that the kids room did not have cable, so to watch the Disney channel or Nick - cartoons period - they would have to come out to the other room. All in all it was a pretty nice stay - like I said we did not have time at all to really enjoy anything and I would for sure plan a trip back!!
