outandaboutava

#outandaboutAva celebrates #NationalCrayonDay @SkyZone #SkyZoneRaleigh + @usfg coupon 

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*Disclaimer:  SobeSavvy.com was hosted by  US Family Guide and Sky Zone Raleigh, however the opinions are my own.

Hey Moms, Dads, Girls and Boys are you ready to JUMP for Joy ?! That’s what we did with invited friends and family at Sky Zone.  Our event- “Celebrate #NationalCrayonDay the #SobeSavvy Way” – was a theme party held for our little artist, #outandaboutAva, who loves to color!  

Sky Zone Raleigh is a trampoline park that is entertaining for the whole family! Got an upcoming birthday to plan for your little one and want to save time & money but splurge on FUN!? Then look no further than Sky Zone Raleigh where they offer several out-of-this-world birthday (and special event) party packages to make your party soar, literally!

Here is what we got with their Jump Around Package

1 Hour of Open Jump Time; includes SkySocks of all sizes!

Access to the Foam Zone and Sky Slam

2 large deep dish one-topping pizzas
1 bottle of water per guest

Party plates, napkins, cups and utensils

40 minutes in a private party room after your jump time 
Party room set up and clean up
Sky Zone party host available throughout your entire experience

Sky Zone Raleigh T-Shirt for ☆Ava 

Prior to the party, I sent out Evite invitations courtesy of Sky Zone and encouraged guests to fill out waivers prior to the event. This made check in go smooth and quick. The staff was well organized, friendly and welcoming when we arrived 30 mins before jump time. We used that time to learn the rules and to pre-game! Once we got our Sky Zone socks, we were ready to soar…. but first, a Sky Zone selfie! 

YOU SHOULD KNOW: 
– Sky Zone Raleigh does not allow outside food or beverages, with the exception of cake or cupcakes.

– Sky Zone separates by size and age.  Any jumper age 4 and under is considered a toddler. For safety purposes toddlers are permitted to jump on Toddler Court and Foam Zone only. Only toddlers are permitted to jump on Toddler Court. 

Our party’s theme was just in time for National Crayon Day, which is celebrated today on 3/31. Everyone young and old loves to color, so we thought this would be a great idea. Since this was not a birthday party but a theme party, I asked that no one bring gifts for our daughter. Instead, each child brought 1 wrapped coloring book/1 box of crayons for a gift exchange. Check out one mom’s creative gift wrapping skills:

These days parties are not just for birthdays..you can celebrate anything, anytime at Sky Zone! Here is what my mom friends had to say when asked to share their thoughts on Sky Zone Raleigh

  • SkyZone does an awesome job keeping the kids active and involved. There is something for every age group!
  • The facility is really clean and well kept.

  • My son and I really enjoyed SkyZone. I enjoy that they keep the toddlers seperate from the big kids.
  • The party attendant (Jessica) was attentive and friendly. I felt great letting my child go free to jump and play.
  • SkyZone was amazing! My 2 yr old daughter had lots of fun and I enjoyed watching her play. The staff was very sweet and attentive.
  • Lots of fun, very clean, friendly staff

  • SkyZone is lots of fun! I like that kids and adults are separate for safety. 
  • Great party place for kids to run and play around. I liked separation by age and that parents can play with kids. Will definitely come back and consider having child’s birthday party here as well!

Everyone had an awesome time bouncing across their patented, all-trampoline, walled playing courts. As a mom who worked a 9 to 5 today, I enjoyed being able to let Skyzone Raleigh do the planning, set up (and cleaning up) for the party. For me saving time is priceless! I appreciated not having to do everything. This party was stress free, which made me jump for joy !

Thanks Sky Zone! 

Click here to see my fun video recap of our good times at Sky Zone! Find all the exciting details to schedule your party at http://www.skyzone.com/raleigh/Birthday-Parties! My SobeSavvy readers get to save with this coupon >>>>! Best Birthday Ever! – 15% off Jump Around Birthday Package

Ever been to Sky Zone before?  Tell me your experience below in the comments! Thanks for reading and feel free to share.

Top 5 Reasons to see The Wolf in #Raleigh ! Thru 4/2 @TheatreRaleigh #FamilyFun

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Looking for some family fun or somewhere different than the playground to go with your little one? Then head to the Kennedy Theatre at Duke Center For Performing Arts to see  “The Wolf” presented by Theatre Raleigh. 

This kid friendly production, directed and choregraphed by Lauren Kennedy Brady, combines elements from well known stories as Little Red Riding Hood, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Three Little Pigs and Peter and the Wolf. Follow those characters and see what they have in store for The Wolf.
SobeSavvy.com shared a review of the play in 2016, so we were excited to be invited again to experience this fantastic play with #outandaboutAva, now 5 yrs old. To see her reaction to this play a year later, now that she is a year older was wonderful!

Savvy Tip: Make sure to stop by the fun “Capture the Wolf” photo booth and hang around after the show to meet the cast!

Top 5 Reasons you should see The Wolf 

  1. Whether you are age 3 or 93, this play is for everyone. Both young and adults audiences will find the production to be entertaining and delightful!
  2. We loved how the characters perform in close physical proximity to the audience. The show is so engaging and approachable, we felt like we were part of the play!  
  3. Kennedy Theatre is uniquely intimate, which is one of the main reasons The Wolf is perfectly suited for this venue.Kids can even sit on floor pillows stage side to help capture The Wolf!
  4. For 1 hour (no intermission), you can feast your eyes on dance, theatre and imagination all in one room. 
  5. You don’t want to miss your chance to finally see The Wolf get outsmarted! Take that, take that..we’re not afraid of the Big Bad Wolf!

The Wolf is an original show written by Joe Calarco and Andre Catrini and is part of The 2017 Family Series sponsored in part by Duke Health and plays until April 2,2017. For showtimes and ticket information, check here.

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Family Travel Guide #ArlingtonVA | @StayArlington Where to Stay, Eat, Play

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Arlington, Va has long been known mainly just for it’s proximity to the nation’s capital. Well I am here to share that Arlington is a awesome destination all on it’s own. With a population of 1/4 million people, Arlington is a gem well worth exploring because it packs a lot of excitement,charm accessibility and affordability into one small area. My family and I, aka #HeighPartyof3, went on a roadtrip to Arlington,VA and here is our weekend family travel guide!

Where to Stay

Hyatt Place Arlington/Courthouse Plaza

Savvy Tip: Arlington is home to more than 40 hotels offering rates up to 20 percent less than those in downtown Washington,D.C

Arlington has many options when it comes to accomodations. At the suggestion of Stay Arlington, we stayed at the brand new Hyatt Place in the Courthouse district. [ read my 2019 update >>here ] In my opinion this eight-story hotel property is located in an awesome area for walking and exploring Arlington on foot or the metro 2 blocks away. Hyatt Place Arlington is perfect for families as well as business and leisure travelers as it has everything one needs for a comfortable stay. The guestrooms are spacious and allowed us to rest easy after driving up for 4 hrs from Raleigh.

With inviting spaces to connect, meet, socialize, eat and drink, this innovative hotel is truly designed around the modern traveler.Speaking of eats and drinks, this hotel offers a Grand and Go case in the lobby where you can get sandwiches and salads 24/7 as well as order from a gallery menu.So whether getting in late or early you will never go hungry here. Be sure to check out the drink menu if you are in the mood for ‘satisfying sips’ for a night cap.Since it was St.Patricks Day (well evening) when we arrived, I decided to drink green and ordered me an apple martini. CHEERS~It was great!

During our stay, we enjoyed their complimentary A.M.Skillet breakfast which has a build your own yogurt station and hot egg and waffle options presented in what else but a skillet ! My little girl enjoyed putting almonds and granola in her oatmeal. For some of our visit, #outandaboutAva got a lil stomach bug. Thanks to the kind and helpful staff at Hyatt Place Arlington for making some customized chamomile/mint tea to help her feel better! We all loved the Hyatt Place as our home away from home.

What to Do

Explore~ We stayed in the vibrant Courthouse district which is within walking distance to a variety of shopping, entertainment and restaurant options. Just across the river from nation’s Capital, Arlington boasts the neighborly, small-town community vibe with all the amenities and conveniences of major urban centers.In addition to its many historical attractions, Arlington is just minutes to the National Mall and other regional attractions. Here are some of the places we explored:

Arlington Farmers Market

Since 1979, residents and visitors alike have enjoyed the weekend Arlington Farmers Market. All things produce and much more can be found in this local gem of a market.

Rocky Run Park

We actually happened upon Rocky Run Park. Set in a quiet residential street, this park has something for everyone. Extensive kids jungle gym activities and basketball courts and multi use turf fields. Great spot for letting the little {and big} kids burn off some steam and have fun.

Arlington National Cemetery

We decided to visit the hollowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, our nation’s shrine to honor those who have served our country. Both beautiful and peaceful, the cemetery is a place to pay homage anf remember those who sacrificed. We enjoyed exploring the impressive landscape and saw many moving experiences like: the Eternal Flame, President Kennedy and Family and Medgar W.Evers grave. If you are looking for a particular place of interest, use the ANC Explorer app available on the cemetery’s website, on-site kiosks or through online app stores. To see more of my photos from our visit to Arlington National Cemetery, see here.

National Mall

One of the perks of staying in Arlington is that you can visit The National Mall, the Smithsonian museums and other places in our Nation’s Capital because they are all just minutes away on Metro. Since we drive up, we just crossed the Potomac River in less than 10 mins to see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Albert Einstein Memorial and the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. A must see!

#PhotoswithAlbert

National Harbor Capital Wheel

If you happen to visit Arlington by car like we did, you will learn that its location ‘inside the Beltway’ (I-495 and I-95) makes it easily accessible from many routes. There is plenty of on-street and private parking options. About 20 mins away is the National Harbor , where we were invited to visit their family fun regional attraction, the Capital Wheel. If you have a sense of adventure, take this ride up to the sky to see the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) landscape for miles around!

Where to Eat

Bayou Bakery

In the mood for Louisiana-style favorites, coffees and desserts? Stop by Bayou Bakery. Owned by New Orleans-born chef David Guas who hosts The Travel Channel’s “American Grilled”, Bayou has brought authentic cajun cuisine to Northern Virginia.

We had some delicious beignets and coffee as a mid morning snack. The place was bustling with families and couples alike. Their living room atmosphere, full of casual charm and vintage Southern character, makes this place a welcoming eatery for breakfast or lunch.

Earl’s Sandwiches

I first learned about Earl’s when looking up what restaurants were close to the hotel. With great reviews on their Facebook page, I knew the location at 2605 Wilson Blvd would be a wonderful place to feature as a must go to lunch spot. There are 2 locations (Clarendon,Ballston) in Arlington where you can get you one of Earl’s delicious sandwiches.

Owner Stephen Dugan(as seen in photo above) was there making sandwiches and taking orders himself! He shared that after being in business for 11 years, his customers love their homemade sandwiches, salads and soups made without the hassle. Looking for a Gluten Free meal? No worries. Any sandwich can be made into a salad for no additional cost. Breakfast sandwiches are served all day and they offer a catering menu too. We ordered 2 items from their monthly Fab Four menu: lump crab cake sandwich (deliciously grilled and served on a sesame seed bun), fish and fries (all served together on one sandwich-yum!) and we all drooled over my daughter’s grilled chicken breast sandwich, shown here. My daughter said it was not good..it was FANTASTIC! Everything was delicious, fresh and tasty.

Kona Grill

Located in Rosslyn, one of Arlington’s urban villages, Kona Grill is one of the 500 restaurant options available in Arlington that offers diverse cuisine and a delightful epicurean experience. Known for their variety of amazing appetizers, mouthwatering entrees, fresh sushi and creative cocktail creations, I knew Kona Grill would be the perfect dinner option for us as a family. They also offer a kids menu and there’s a beautiful aquarium in the center of the restaurant that my daughter loved. This place is popular so make reservations and go early if have a little one. I will be sharing my full review as my #FoodieFriday feature. Stay tuned!

With plenty of “National History.Local Flavor”, our stay in Arlington was indeed memorable. We look forward to returning when it’s warmer as there is some shopping I did not get to do at their infamous Fashion Centre at Pentagon City and more fun to be had!

We did do some online shopping prior to our trip with SunglassWarehouse.com and partnered with them to show you how we travel in style.I’ll be sharing more about this brand that offers classic sunglass styles at affordable prices in a future Fashion Friday post. Since our roadtrip took us to Arlington, VA & Washington DC, I thought it would be fun to style their (from left to right) Canoe driving sunglasses for me, Arlington for Him (very apropo don’t ya think) and Lincoln (for my lil one and Mr. President himself..lol)

Until next time..Happy Travels!

#TravelTuesday Feature ~ #FamilyTravel Fun Itinerary for Greensboro, NC #VisitGSO

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With a great selection of 135 attractions, Greensboro has been on my family’s radar to visit ever since we moved to Raleigh, NC almost 2 years ago. That’s why when I learned the Triad Women’s Blogger Network was holding their first meetup of the year in The Gate City, I took the opportunity to reach out to VisitGreensboroNC.com, who guided us in where to stay, eat, play while there. Here is a look at my family’s, aka #HeighPartyof3, itinerary during our weekend visit. 

FRIDAY

We checked into the Home2Suites by Hilton Greensboro Airport . 

This extended stay property is located near the airport, so for those flying into and out of Greensboro this is a great location. They have a nice gym and a indoor pool. Breakfast is included so you have fuel to start your day of exploring Greensboro !

SATURDAY

I attended the meeting with Triad Women Bloggers Network, while my husband and daughter checked out The Greensboro Children’s Museum.What is the Triad Women Bloggers Network? It is a group, founded by Ashley Carter of http://www.fabellis.com, of women bloggers in the Triad North Carolina area who connect, build, empower and encourage each other. The meetup was held at Urban Grinders which is part coffee shop, part art gallery, 100% cool. It was the perfect place to hold the event, which included an amazing Blogger panel, swag bag for each attendee and great networking. Check out photos from the meetup here.

Photo Credit:Triad Women Bloggers Network

According to my daughter, aka #outandaboutAva, I missed all the fun at The Greensboro Children’s Museum.

Having a 5 yr old means that you first realized that there are actual museums devoted to just children, What a concept !!

Having visited other kids museum, this one turned to be pretty unique. Besides the usual pretend Post office and Dentist office , this museum has an extensive outdoors area dedicated to agriculture, vegetation and even a tractor and a hen house. Science and hands on arts and crafts made this museum a fun and a learning experience. Centrally located downtown , this is a can’t miss for families with the under 10 set.

We met up for lunch at The Table on Elm, located in Downtown Greensboro . I will be sharing an in depth review of this restaurant as my #FoodieFriday feature this week, so stay tuned! I will say that this place is a must try and I am still dreaming of their desserts. It’s the perfect grab and go eatery to get lunch, and walk to one of the 2 nearby parks.

LeBauer Park and Center City Park are both adjacent to each other

City Center Park is a stylish park with beautiful walkways sprinkled with public art pieces that sometimes are actually benches ! They have an attractive amphitheater where free concerts and events are held all summer long.

Lebauer Park is a new urban park/playground area we had heard so many positive things about. It takes up a few acres of prime real estate downtown so it did not disappoint. What makes this place great is the plethora of activities that can be had at one time in a clean and modern park setting. Ping Pong tables, badminton, miniature golf..ALL of the equipment right there for the public to use at their leisure. I have not seen anything like this here in the states before. Other places would charge for these facility perks but here it all for free. They have a lot of tables on the perimeters where coupes and families were enjoying their lunches whilst their kids romped around. It was very pleasant and even though there was a crowd there on a Saturday afternoon, it never felt crowded. A must see for any visitor to the Gate City of Greensboro.

#soTravelSavvy tip: Get off the beaten path when visiting a new city. You never know what you may find. We saw so many beautiful murals while doing so!

SUNDAY
No Family Travel to Greensboro would be complete without a visit to the Greensboro Science Center.

This attraction has a trifecta of activities. The aquarium, Science museum and the outdoor zoo. We spent the entire morning here looking at snakes and sharks and tigers ! The layout is logically set up so guests meander throughout the indoor sections that eventually lead them to the outdoor zoo and Skywild zipline/elevated walkway attraction. We so enjoyed every part of this complex. The interactive science experiments were so much fun. The zoo had Gibbons and of course that big Bengal Tiger.The petting zoo was an awesome part also that my little one enjoyed. The whole complex is just a wonderful concept.Here is a video roundup of our day at the Greensboro Science Center. Enjoy!

#soNCsavvy Tip: Don’t leave Greensboro without learning more about the role this NC city played in the Civils Right Movement, Black History and American History.

Although it was our first visit to Greensboro , it won’t be our last as it is a quick road trip away. Tell me, have you been to the Gate City of Greensboro and explored all they have to offer ? If not, what are you waiting for?! If so, share your experience below….as seen here at The Greensboro Science Center, we’re all ears! 

#outandaboutAva gets creative with her @American_Girl #GOTY2017 Gabriela McBride #AGdoll #Fun 

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​Disclosure: We received the doll for review and the opinions are that of my own/DD

We were excited to hear the news of American Girl’s debut of its 2017 Girl of the Year – Gabriela McBride, which became available January 1, 2017. Why were we excited ? As a mom, I love to see representation and diversity in dolls and it was another opportunity for my daughter to bond with a doll that as she would say “looks like me”. 

We learned that Gabriela is a true talent who uses her passion for the arts—specifically spoken word poetry—to overcome personal obstacles and create positive change for her community. Gabriela launched with a beautiful 18-inch doll, plus several performance-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys. We’re also happy to hear that, unlike past Girl of the Year characters, Gabriela will be available throughout 2017 and beyond!

After unboxing her, my daughter was most impressed with her outfit. She liked the layered top & jeans and commented that the shoes are easier to put on and take off in comparison to some other dolls. It also comes with a book that shares how Gabriela focuses on expressing her true feelings when speaking up gets scary. Gabriela is inspired to use her talents and be creative for a cause. 

The doll comes with clear rubber bands and a pink headband. My daughter squealed in delight over the brown curls and could not wait to style it ! (as seen in this YouTube video). 

Coming in March, American Girl is partnering with Scholastic to create and distribute Express Yourself, a program for classrooms that empowers students to use the arts as a tool for self-expression ,to connect students with Gabriela’s inspiring message and to bring awareness to spoken word poetry. The classroom resources will give teachers the tools to encourage students to find their creative voices, just in time for National Poetry Month in April.

Learn more about Gabriela here-and get ready to imagine, dream and create! After reading her inspiring story to my daughter, I told her “May her Dreams be as Big as her Smile~Always! “

Did you know #Moana Sing Along Film is in Theaters Today ? You’re Welcome! @DisneyMoana #Disney

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MOANA fans get your singing voices ready as Walt Disney Animation Studios introduces an all-new sing-along version of the hit, critically-lauded comedy-adventure MOANA, coming to theaters nationwide January 27th!

Ever since my family and I went to the advanced screening of MOANA , my daughter has been singing and dancing to entire soundtrack! We love the film so much we even had a Moana theme night at home where I got my Polynesian on! 

I can not wait to see the movie again and continue on the epic journey. Fans are invited to set sail this time with an all-new sing-along version of MOANA launching in more than 2,000 theaters nationwide TODAY! MOANA audiences were swept away by the film’s original songs and score from a dynamic team that includes Tony®-, Emmy®- and Grammy®-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda (Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning “Hamilton,” Tony-winning “In the Heights”), Mark Mancina (“Tarzan,” Broadway’s “The Lion King”) and Opetaia Foa‘i (founder and lead singer of the award-winning world music band Te Vaka).

The sing-along version of MOANA includes the full feature film with on-screen lyrics, so audiences can belt out the words to their favorite songs, such as the Golden Globe®-nominated “How Far I’ll Go.” Moviegoers can check local listings for showtimes and theaters; the sing-along run will vary by location.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 56th animated feature opened domestically on Nov. 23, 2016, becoming the No. 2 Thanksgiving debut ever with $82 million. The film continues to delight audiences around the globe, earning more than $225 million domestically and $450 million worldwide to date. The film has a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore.

MOANA has received, thus far, nominations for BAFTA, PGA, Golden Globe® and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for best animated feature. The film’s uplifting soundtrack has dominated the music charts for more than six weeks, peaking at No. 1 on the iTunes Albums chart; it is currently No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The soundtrack is available wherever music is sold and streaming.

Audiences can soon enjoy the original theatrical version of the film at home and packed with a variety of bonus extras when MOANA arrives on Digital HD/3D and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Feb. 21, and on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, Digital SD, DVD and On-Demand on March 7.

Like MOANA on Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana

 Follow MOANA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneymoana

 Follow Disney Animation on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/disneyanimation/

 Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr:http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/

 Visit the official MOANA website here:http://movies.disney.com/moana

Whether you have never seen Moana before or plan to see it again like us, you are in for a treat! The movie, it’s message and the songs will leave an impression on the whole family. 

 Find out where the film is playing near you >>>here

You’re Welcome !

Got a child age 2-5 ? Then go see #DanielTigerLive ~It’s Grr-fic ! Today @DPAC 2pm/5:30pm #Durham 

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The legacy of the beloved “Mister Rogers” lives on with the hit television series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, from The Fred Rogers Company and airing daily on PBS KIDS. 

Now, Daniel and all of
his friends are hopping aboard Trolley to delight live audiences with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! Families and friends filled up DPAC in Durham on Saturday, January 21, 2017 for two (2pm & 5:30pm) exciting shows! Our little one packed up Daniel Tiger and Friends and was ready to see all of her favorites come to life on the big stage!

Donning his iconic red sweater, Daniel invites the audience on a musical adventure as he and his friends explore the vibrant world of their Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where sharing stories of friendship, helping others and celebrating new experiences is their preferred way of making the most of a beautiful day!


This interactive, live theatrical production filled with singing, dancing, laughter and “grr-ific” surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood tells its engaging stories about the life of a preschooler using musical strategies grounded in Fred Rogers’ landmark social-emotional curriculum. Through imagination, creativity and music, Daniel and his friends learn the key social skills necessary for school and for life.


In February 2015, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood was the #2 program across all TV networks for Kids 2-5 and with moms of young children. In addition, it continues to be one of the highest-streamed shows, averaging over 40 million streams per month. One million Daniel Tiger books have been published to date, and downloads of the apps, music and episodes continue to rank high on iTunes.

The animated TV series has garnered a host of prestigious awards, and most recently was nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program. This recognition follows a string of additional honors, including a 2015 Parents’ Choice Gold Award and 2014 Prix Jeunesse International Selection as well as the 2013 Kidscreen Award for Best Animated Series in the Preschool Category, and 2013
Cynopsis: Kids! Imagination Award for Preschool Series.

For more information please go to www.DPACnc.com. 

PBS KIDS Website: http://pbskids.org/daniel/

The Fred Rogers Company Website: http://www.fredrogers.org/

Produced by Mills Entertainment: http://millsentertainment.com/

Executive Producer/Tour Booking: The Brad Simon
Organization Inc.: http://www.bsoinc.com/


#FoodieFriday Spotlight on #CLTFood | Where to Eat & More #Charlotte #CLT #charlottesgotalot 

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Note: This post was sponsored in part by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. All opinions and photos are my own.

To celebrate the end of 2016, my family and I went on a road trip down to Charlotte, NC. Besides all the great cultural and sports attractions that North Carolina’s biggest city encompasses, I was there for a more basic reason: to eat !  Charlotte has quite the cuisine scene and this foodie was focused on eating like a Queen in the Queen City! 

American Girl Dining SouthPark Mall

First, I made plans to have lunch with my little princess and her favorite doll at the bistro inside the American Girl Store at SouthPark Mall. It was quite a unique experience, which you can read my full review here. Not only was it a fun time, but the kid friendly menu had tasty options for us adults too. A reservation is definitely necessary as this place is popular. Be sure to end your meal on a sweet note and order dessert. They’ll even bring a cupcake out for your child to decorate for their doll to enjoy!

Dinner at Sea Level NC  

Since it was NYE, an early dinner in Uptown was the perfect choice. I love fresh seafood and Sea Level NC delivered just that! Service was friendly and professional. Never underestimate how important southern hospitality is to a restaurant experience.Their decor is modern and understated stylish. Lots of exposed brick and wood. 

They have a incredible farm to fork raw oyster menu sourced from North Carolina and all over the country. It changes constantly depending on the season and what’s available. All fresh and delectable. 

Ooh baby I like it raw..in my ODB voice..lol, but if you dont’t and prefer something steamed, try the mussels. Plump and tasty. Mussel rule #108 don’t forget to use the bread for sopping up the mussel broth made with white wine and garlic butter !

Wash them down with a beer or glass of wine from their extensive drink menu or a  order craft cocktail called Melting NY Sour. It was what my husband called a “man’s drink”.

Their daily seafood catches and delicious dishes, like their classic Lobster roll make this restaurant a must try for visitors and locals. Huge hunks of lobster on greens and a remoulade sauce on a lightly toasted bread was fantastic. They let the lobster just be lobster. Why mess with perfection?!

Midwood Smokehouse Ballantyne

Midwood Smokehouse has quickly become a BBQ institution in Charlotte. We had the pleasure of dining at their Ballyntyne location in Charlotte on New Years Day for dinner. North Carolina and Charlotte in general have a lot of BBQ restauarants, but when restaurateur Frank Scibelli toured barbeque joints in Texas, he picked up invaluable tips.For starters, they burn hickory logs 24 hours a day to smoke their meats in a one of a kind ,old school manual commercial smoker. The general manager was kind enough to give me a tour of the kitchen where all the magic happens. Someone has to feed the smoker constantly to keep the fire going and maintain a even temperature in the smoker at all times. That takes a lot of work . More art than science and it shows in their food.We started with some smoked wings. Dry on the outside but moist and flavorful inside. 

I had a new years special that is not normally on their menu. Pork shoulder, collard greens, black eyed peas and jalapeno cornbread. This is traditional meal to be eaten for good luck to start 2017. They should start a tradition and keep this entree on the menu! It’s was that good.

One side dish you can always find on the menu is the mac and cheese. I do not know what cheeses were used but there was plenty of it throughout ! I have no doubt this was made with love.

Service was prompt, informative and friendly. The manager demanded we try some brisket before we departed , so we managed to try a few bites. WOW ! tender, tasty and perfect mix of lean and fat.Midwood is now our “GO TO ” spot when we are in Charlotte and craving REAL BBQ . Take it from their mascot, the Notorious P.I.G ..they smoke the good stuff!

After a great dinner, we headed back to our hotel at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Ballantyne. It is conveniently close (within walking distance) to the restaurant and a great choice of lodging when staying in Charlotte. Check out my video to see why : https://youtu.be/YqoCw2QHhuk

Holidays on Ice at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza

Although it rained most of our visit, on our last day, I got to work off some of that good eating by ice skating. Located outside the
Nascar Hall Of Fame, Charlotte’s outdoor ice rink is perfect for families, date nights or fun outings with friends. 

None of us had ever been ice skating before so this was an exciting family first! Skates on.Stand up. Let’s skate. If it was only that easy !! Luckily a few kind teenagers helped us onto the ice. We all held on to the bannister and laughed alot. Holiday on Ice is definitely a holiday tradition that both skaters and non-skaters can enjoy. Afterwards, we celebrated by having our picture taken with the giant polar bear and next to a NASCAR sign of course!

Thank you to our friends at Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne, American Girl brand and a very special thanks to the CRVA for the warm welcome to Charlotte! We made great memories, discovered amazing places to dine, learned that the Queen City is a haven for foodies and that Charlotte’s got a lot.

Happy Birthday #MelodyEllison ! Celebrate & #LiftYourVoice @American_Girl Bistro in #Charlotte

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Today is not only the celebration of the New Year (Happy 2017 Everyone!) but did you know it was Melody Ellison’s , American Girl’s latest BeForever doll, birthday?! 

Melody Ellison made her debut back in August and our friends at American Girl sent our #outandaboutAva one to review. She immediately loved the doll’s outfit (a bright A-line dress,headband for hair, socks plus shiny-blue patent shoes) and enjoyed learning that the BeForever character from 1964 loves music just like she does! It was like love at first sight when she noticed the doll has deep-brown eyes and skin “just like me”!

In the book, No Ordinary Sound,  Melody’s story unfolds..she grew up in Detroit during the Civil Rights Movement and, while facing many challenges, she wants to help change her world for the better. It is a very inspiring story based on true historical accuracy and authenticity based on the input of esteemed educators and historians.

Fairness, equality, hope, harmony..those are just some of the important messages that every reader shall take away from Melody Ellison’s story. Her courage is something to celebrate. So when I learned the character’s birthday was New Year’s Day, I decided to make the holidays magical by planning a visit to the American Girl Store in Charlotte, NC for my daughter and her doll to enjoy a signature dining experience. Every birthday girl needs a birthday dress, so we dressed Melody in her Christmas outfit and we were on our way!

Located at SouthPark Mall, the American Girl store offers festive dining in the Bistro. This is every girl’s dream to get all dolled up and go dining with their doll! Reservations are highly recommended as this is a popular experience and seating at this location sits only 25 with a special party room for birthday groups up to 12 people.We got seated at a beautifully decorated table where Melody had her own special dining chair. How darling!

We were promptly greeted and asked our drink order. Sprite, Pink Lemonade, and Sweet Tea were the drinks of the day for us 3. And for Melody, her own little saucer and drink..what a nice surprise! While we waited for our food, we enjoyed the conversation starters game that was available on the table to play.

Their menu is very unique because they encourage you to “design how you dine”. You can order dessert prior to an entree or vice versa. Do not think though that because the menu is kid friendly that quality suffers. That is not the case. Everything was top notch, great tasting food. I especially enjoyed my spinach salad with grilled chicken and warm bacon dressing. 

Our wonderful bistro experience ended with a DIY cupcake.Two plain cupcakes {one reg size and one Melody sized} with all the cupcake topping ingredients on the side. My daughter basically custom made her own cupcake. Spreading the amount of icing and sprinkles as she saw fit {which was almost all of it !}.It was like a dessert science project that you can eat ! Hubby and I shared the dessert sampler, which included warm cookies and brownie bites. We presented Melody, the birthday girl, with her own cupcake and candle and lifted our voices to sing Happy Birthday! See video here.

What wonderful memories made and a great experience to share with any lityle loved ones in your family! Next time you want to celebrate any special occasion or just have a nice lunch or dinner date, definitely plan a visit to the American Girl store and dine at the Bistro.

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@CarolinaBallet Presents The Nutcracker Review + Giveaway,Win 2 Tix 12/16 show #NC #FamilyFun 

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Photo Credits: Carolina Ballet

On Saturday​ December 10 , SobeSavvy.com joined other ballet lovers in celebrating the 15th anniversary of Carolina Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker. This family friendly show, performed today at DPAC, is totally unique: it’s the only one that features illusions from world-renowned magician Rick Thomas. We got to experience breathtaking ballet, mind blowing illusions and see our favorite characters levitate, disappear, and reappear!

My daughter just had The Nutcracker story read to her at school as well as learned the music in class, so the timing was perfect to introduce her to this holiday classic. Carolina Ballet, under the direction of CEO/Artistic director Robert Weiss, does an outstanding job performing this magical tale of holiday adventure based on a novel by E.T.A. Hoffman. The Nutcracker is one of the most recognizable scores in the ballet repertoire and definitely a performance everyone should see! 

In case you need a refresher of what The Nutcracker is about, here is a quick synopsis:

It begins when young Clara receives a nutcracker from her godfather, a wizardly toymaker named Drosselmeyer. Sneaking downstairs to see the toy after everyone else has gone to bed, she suddenly finds herself caught in the middle of a pitched battle between the toys and an army of mice. After saving the nutcracker with a well-thrown shoe to the Mouse King’s head, Clara and her now-living prince venture into the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets to celebrate. Throughout their adventures, Tchaikovsky’s dazzling inventiveness propels the dances of nimble flowers and regal fairy queens. The “Waltz of the Snowflakes” floats weightlessly whereas the “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” tiptoes to the haunting, music-box chimes of a celesta. A medley of exotic national dances—including a Spanish bolero and Russian Trepak—add to the phantasmagoric celebration before the whole dream ends, as all dreams must. 

This was my first time taking #outandaboutAva to see Carolina Ballet presents The Nutcracker and to share the moment with her will be a holiday memory that I will never forget!

Now I would like to give you the chance to be awed by the magic and choreography of Carolina Ballet and giveaway 2 tickets to see The Nutcracker perform on Friday December 16, 7pm at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. 1 winner will be randomly selected on December 14th at noon. Enter by leaving a comment below sharing why you want to go! 

Good Luck!