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I just read this article on Yahoo titled: Restaurant bans kids under 6: Discrimination or smart move?

As I read the article, the newest restaurant to jump on the band wagon is one that is only about an hour from me. I could have possibly stopped their on a drive to Pittsburgh. The one near me is McDain’s Restaurant in Monroeville.

I often try to remain neutral on my blog but I actually find this article a bit offensive as a parent with small children.  I can understand how a screaming child would ruin a mood for a couple eating dinner next to us but only once did I have an incident where my toddler started a tantrum.  We asked the waiter to box up our food and we left.  But that was the only time we had an issue eating out as a family.

I have a 2 yr old, 7 yr old, and 9 yr old.   I don’t think it’s fair that more and more restaurants are starting this policy.  It seems that the restaurants in these articles feel that families with small children should just be content to eat at McDonalds until all their children have reached the age of 6.  Well I’m sorry but once in a great while we like to splurge and go out for a nice sit down family dinner.  Why should families be banished to restaurants with bright colors and cardboard boxes?

Think of the economy.  I think it’s safe to say that family dinner bills are a bit more than couples.

I’ve been in restaurants where I’ve heard adults with inappropriate or obnoxious conversations.  I’ve seen adults yell at waiters/waitresses over something trivial like forgetting the ketchup.  I’ve seen adults in a place like Applebee’s have one too many drinks and make a spectacle of themselves.  I used to work as a waitress and these things happen more than some people realize.

How is a small child going to learn how to act in a nice restaurant if the years they soak up the most knowledge are spent strictly in restaurants that have a playground in it?   I realize that not every restaurant is doing this BUT, I was shocked to read the comments in the article and see how many were in support of it.

I don’t have a babysitter at the snap of my fingers.  My family works and lead busy lives. I am a mother who enjoys spending dinner together as a family.  We don’t go out to a nice dinner but a few times a year.  I want to splurge and enjoy our time, not be turned away at the door.  I’m a paying customer.

Ok I’m going to get off my soapbox.  Anyone else have an angle on this?

I sent an email off to McDain’s voicing my opinion:  mcdains@gmail.com

McDain’s Restaurant
 4440 Broadway Boulevard
Monroeville, PA 15146

If you want to write them too, either email or letter. 

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I’ve honestly never been to Virginia Beach. I live in PA, I’ve been to Daytona beach, Myrtle beach, Ormond beach, Isle of Palms, Rehobeth beach, and Ocean City Maryland but I’ve never been to Virginia beach. Not sure why really. Virginia beach isn’t too bad of a drive compared to some of the others I’ve been to. I’m thinking that maybe our next beach vacation we’ll definitely consider Virginia Beach. Here is a list of 10 reasons why I would consider it (no particular order):

1.  We aren’t really a flying family.  Driving is generally cheaper for a family of 5 and we love to see the sites and stop when we feel like it.

2.  Virginia beach would be more cost effective for us in travel expenses (IE.  Not as much money for gas and food stops on the way there).

3.  I have family that live near Virginia beach.  I think it would be neat to meet them there and spend a day together.

4.  My boys have been bugging me to go pier fishing.  You can do that at Virginia Beach.

5.  We have never been to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center.  My family loves aquariums.  Just something about the allure of seeing creatures you can’t normally see close up. The tranquility of seeing the sea creatures swiming around in the clear waters.  Oh man I really want to go now.

6.  During the summer months you can catch nightly entertainment in an area they call Beach Street USA.  I like the name.  Sounds like all kinds of fun things go on when that is up and running.

7.  I think my hubby and my boys would love to see the Military Aviation Museum.  I could just imagine my toddlers eyes.

8.  Would you believe I’ve never seen a lighthouse up close?  Truly I haven’t.  Virginia beach apparently has a Cape Henry Lighthouse and Memorial Park.  I think that would be a site to see!

9.  Virginia Beach offers budget friendly and family friendly packages like Beach/Busch Gardens family package for 3 days and 2 nights, Fishing for fun afternoon charter package, build your own package and more.  That would make it so easy for me to find something to fit our budget AND something my family will enjoy.

10.  Virginia Beach has something called “Family Great Adventures Series”.  My family could participate in an adventure along the ocean front to help solve a mystery or watch a movie on a giant inflatable movie screen.  I’ve never seen anything like that on the beach.  The best part, it’s free!

I had booked and paid for my family’s vacation months ago.  Typing all this up though I’m thinking, why didn’t I look more into Virginia Beach??  Well now I know for next time.  Would have been much closer too.

Have you ever been to Virginia Beach?  What was your favorite thing to do?  If you haven’t been, would you consider?

***I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach Tourism blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here***

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I’m sorry but I just had to share this. I’m bursting at the seems. I enter a lot of giveaway but I never get “the big prize”. Understand that I appreciate anything i win. I use it too or make sure I give it to someone who can if I have my fair share.

I have to write about this one because I almost didn’t get it. Let me explain. I’m a member of several blogger sites: Mom Bloggers Club, Mom Central, SocialMoms.com, etc. I try to log into each of the sites once a week. I sign up for emails from them so I can keep abreast of any contests, changes, etc.

Well Mom Bloggers Club had a contest in June from Clorox Green Works. Everyone who entered could only have a max of 2 entries. I made sure to do both entries. I nearly forgot about the contest. There was only 1 prize and I thought there was no way I would win it.

I check my main email and secondary email daily. I check my tweets, DMs, and facebook sometimes several times a day. I won a few things here and there.

Well I logged into Mom Bloggers Club to post a giveaway and check out what was going on there. I saw I had 11 inbox messages. I honestly wasn’t even going to check it even then because it’s usually just group invites, voting requests, etc that could have waited at the time. Something prompted me to check it though. I see an email from Jennifer James saying “Clorox Green Works giveaway winner”.

So I replied, thanked her, and sent her my shipping info.  I’m thinking I maybe just won some Clorox Green Works cleaning products.  I don’t mean to say “just” but I didn’t expect it to be bigger than that.  I love winning stuff that I can use like that because it saves money on the grocery bill.  Again, Something told me to check the link she included.  It opened up to the contest page.  What do I see but this (seriously check it out):  http://www.mombloggersclub.com/page/green-works-summer-giveaway

I felt the blood drain out of my face.  I thought, there’s no way I won that.  I’m not THAT lucky.  So I read through the rules and saw that there was ONLY 1 WINNER.  That’s me!  There was no time frame stated as to when the winner had to reply.  I looked back at the email she sent me.  It was sent on July 1st, a full 9 days from when I replied.  I was sick.  I thought, OMG I didn’t check my Mom Bloggers Club inbox for over a week and I may have lost this awesome prize.  I frantically emailed her again and sent a DM.  I didn’t hear a reply that day.  Not that I should have expected that.  She’s a busy woman.  In desperation I sent a tweet out to her today.  She got back to me.  She said she was glad I replied because she was about to choose another winner TODAY!  No kidding.  So thank God for prompting me, thank God for the wonderful prize, and thank Mom Bloggers Club for not have a super small window to reply for prizes. 

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Funny videos have been crossing my path the last few days. I figure this is great to share with you all. Would fit into the Fun Sites (and technically free stuff) category. Hope you have a little chuckle like I did. It’s Justin Timberlake “preparing” for to host the ESPY awards.

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Oh my gosh, I found this video on one of my fave radio stations facebook page. I thought this was so funny. My husband liked it too. Just thought I’d share for something fun.

What do ya think?

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