PITTSBURGH’S AL MAZING WON’T BE DISAPPEARING FROM THE PGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

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Kids? Adults? Magic! That’s Al Mazing, our wonderful local Pittsburgh talent who works all over our great town and all it’s suburbs! Al Mazing disappears from Squirrel Hill and ends up in Downtown Pittsburgh, and sometimes he disappears from outside venues and reappears at inside events like the local libraries! Where will you see Al and his magic show, entertainment and comedy next? How about this:

almazing

Presenting Pittsburgh Magician Al Mazing this week and weekend at the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival! If you don’t know his talent then let me give you a little Pittsburgh Insider’s Information on Al Mazing: you will laugh and be entertained and so will your kids as Al has been making Pittsburgh more magical to live in since 1996!  Al Mazing shows are for kids of every age!
al mazing

BON JOVI ~More Tickets 2/21 & Autographed Poster Giveaway

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What huge excitement to hear that Bon Jovi has additional tickets for the 2/21 show in Pittsburgh! As soon as I think of Bon Jovi I think Livin’  On A Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive and Bad Medicine.  I quickly flash back to my years before my kids and think of all the songs that I listened to and enjoyed when I was getting ready for those fun nights out with my then boyfriend and now husband! Did I date myself? LOL!~

Bon Jovi

You can grab your tickets for the February 21, 2013 show HERE, and remember, these were just made additional, when they are gone, they are gone! GOOD LUCK getting them!

bon jovi

How about an autographed official tour poster, which is what the band will autograph?  How about 2? I am giving them away below.  Good luck winning one!  Here is what they look like! The WHOLE band will sign these!

bon jovi poster

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.”For Rules and Disclosures of this giveaway, please see Rafflecopter form: Terms And Conditions. Open to US only, 18+ only. MY BLOG is not responsible for prize shipment.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Nuclear Cowboyz® Pittsburgh ~tickets giveaway

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Nuclear Cowboyz® Invade
CONSOL Energy Center January 26-27

nuclear

Anyone want to go see the Nuclear Cowboyz?  We enjoyed this show last year and this year it is here for 2 days!  You will be entertained and amazed!

PRESS RELEASE BELOW:

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 2, 2013) - Nuclear Cowboyz®, the only high octane-fueled freestyle motocross touring production in North America, is coming to CONSOL Energy Center January 26-27. The action-packed narrative is the legend of two powerful freestyle motocross tribes whose survival in their futuristic world is told through an amassed compilation of fearless freestyle aerial feats, gravity-defying stunts, and electrifying pyrotechnic and laser displays synchronized to an energizing soundtrack.

 

Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 has the greatest cast of freestyle motocross, trials and quad riders ever assembled, including recent X Games 2012 medalists Ronnie Faisst, Mike Mason, Taka Higashino and Winter X Games gold and silver medalist Colten Moore. The tour also includes former gold medalists – Pittsburgh Native, Adam Jones – and Matt Buyten as well as award-winning freestylers Derek Garland, Brody Wilson, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Wes Agee, Nick Dunne, Geoff Aaron, Keith Wineland and Marco Picado in this action-packed freestyle performance of pure danger and raw combat.

 

NUCLEAR COWBOYZ

 Saturday & Sunday
January 26-27, 2013

Main Event
Saturday – 7:30PM
Sunday – 2:00PM

Doors Open
Saturday – 6:30PM
Sunday – 1:00PM

Ticket Prices
VIP Fall Out Zone- $85 All Seats
Gold Circle - $50 All Seats
3rd Price Level- $35 Adults / $10 Kids (ages 2 – 12)
All tickets $2 more day of show
Additional Fees may apply

VIP Fall Out Zone is only available for Saturday, January 26 event.
Tickets are available at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Box Office at CONSOL Energy Center, all Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SKIING THE VALLEY ~ CANAAN VALLEY ~TUCKER COUNTY,WV

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MOOSE LODGE, CANAAN VALLEY, WV

 

I can’t believe we are already into December and our trip to Canaan Valley, is up and coming.  We are so looking forward to skiing the slopes, snow tubing and ice skating, we are actually counting the days down.  We love skiing and have skied in the Mountains of Banff and through the slopes PA —now we are headed on a great sponsored trip to Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia to hit the trails in January 2013! I just was given the photos to see where we will be staying for the first time and I have to share this with you.  I hope this will help you in planning your fun family times this up and coming year!  Best of Canaan Realty has got our accommodations covered.

 

If you have not already looked into skiing here you are missing out because not only does Canaan Valley boast some of the best trails around our area, their prices on tickets are so modest!  Our passes will be Ski the Valley tickets which can be used at either (Timberline Four Seasons Resort or Canaan Valley Resort) resort for 2 days in a row.  The prices on these tickets are very ‘frugal’ and give you plenty of time to really get your Ski Groove on!
Chair Lift at Canaan Valley Resort
OUR LODGING

Our lodging will be provided by Best of Canaan Realty.  They have arranged a really great location for my family to stay after long days on the slopes and I wanted to share a photo of it with you.  I love planning as many moms do as well, and I need to have the details so that I can get things in order so once we are there I can relax.  These pictures show me what I need to know and allow me to figure out where we can eat, hang out, and everything about the area, so I can plan it out and get it right.  With 5 people traveling together planning becomes a bit more difficult as I want to make sure as a mom that everyone is satisfied in some way.

the fireplace

This will be perfect after skiing the slopes, ice skating and snow tubing

The MOOSE LODGE will be a great way to unwind each day.  Everyone is getting their Own BED which is a bonus, no tossing, turning and smashing on each other, no cramming – S-P-A-C-E, something that is vital after a day of physical activity.  Speaking of space the MOOSE LODGE, provided by Best of  Canaan Realty,  has plenty of space:  This is a 2 story townhome which has 3 bedrooms and a loft with a sleeper sofa.  There is a private hot tub, Full Kitchen with a fireplace, 2 and 1/2 baths, with plenty of room to spread out! We are close enough to walk to the ski trails!

inside lodge

 

We are really excited for this trip and the kids are counting the days down until we arrive! Look out Tucker County, here we come!

 

warm and toasty after a cool day on the slopes

This is calling my name!

 

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Read the Entire Press Release Here:

News Release: October 22, 2012
Facebook: WV Commerce – State Parks Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 957-9365 hoy.r.murphy@wv.gov
Contact:
Lisa Ratliff, Canaan Valley Resort State Park (304) 866-4121
It’s snow time at Canaan Valley! Big changes create better outdoor recreation
DAVIS, W.Va. – Canaan Valley Resort State Park is located within a high mountain valley that is actually carved from a plateau. Its base elevation – what visitors recognize as Canaan Valley – is 3,430 feet and the area as a whole includes a wildlife refuge, vacation homes and other private rental properties and the state park, Canaan Valley. The highest elevation at the resort is 4,280 feet.
“When you have the terrain, the elevations and accommodations, winter sports are the result,” says Lisa Ratliff with Canaan Valley Resort. “When it snows in West Virginia, it’s time to visit Canaan Valley to play in the snow, to ski, and this year, to tube.”
Canaan Valley Resort is undergoing massive renovations. From the replacement of the 1970s-era lodge and current construction of a new complex, to the downhill ski area improvements and the construction of a mega-tubing park that will open December 2012, Canaan Valley is changing. “The tubing park is going to be awesome,” says Ratliff. The tubing park will have up to 10 lanes and will be the longest run in the mid-Atlantic at 1,200 feet.
Carolyn Mansberger, construction projects manager with the state park system, agrees. “The replacement, updates and new outdoor sport opportunities began in May 2012, and are in different phases currently. When the various projects are completed, Tucker County and state tourism as a whole will recognize the positive impact of a state park of this magnitude. It is a beautiful area year-round.”
Three main features that the general public will notice immediately are the new Canaan Valley Tubing Park, opening for its first season in December 2012; a wobble clay shooting range, which is a non-winter sport and will open in the spring of 2013; and the new lodge complex projected for completion in August 2013. One hundred fifty of the original rooms at Canaan Valley Lodge remain open as well as the park restaurant, gift shop and meeting rooms during the new construction phases.
Canaan Valley Resort capital improvements in a nutshell
Slopes and tubing debut in 2012 ski season
Construction for installing a new snow tubing park and wobble clay range at Canaan Valley has been in full speed throughout the summer of 2012. “We are very excited about the new facility and the expansion at the ski area,” Ratliff says. Ratliff lists the fire ring at Bear Paw Lodge, the new ski school and beginners area with a magic carpet and warming hut as some of the amenities that visitors to the park will be happy to find.
Improvements or additions on the snow side of improvements include a new snowmaking system, greatly expanded snowmaking, lift improvements, and a “magic carpet” for the new tubing park. A magic carpet is a surface lift much like an escalator or people movers found in airports, except outside. Like the song lyrics say, “Long way to go and a short time to get there,” the magic carpet moves people quicker to the point where fun begins.
The wobble clay range is a non-winter sport. This shooting range provides shotgun shooters sporting opportunities that are considered more challenging than traditional trap shooting. This facility is under construction at the tubing park area. A wobble clay range is also found at Cacapon Resort State Park in Morgan County.
Bear Paw Lodge, the check-in area for downhill skiing at Canaan Valley, also has been upgraded. The work and renovations include new furnishing; roof replacement; energy efficient windows; and exterior upgrades, including paint, steps and retaining wall improvements. Five contractors are involved in different aspects of the ski area improvements. Total cost of all ski area work is approximately $10 million including A/E fees.
Nearby Blackwater Falls State Park also is revamping its original sled run which is also slated for opening this winter. The two state parks are within 15 miles of each other and both appeal to the outdoor-minded person or families and offer winter indoor and outdoor facilities and activities.
New digs for skiers, golfers and nature buffs coming in 2013
Lodge complex development includes two new wings, North and South, which consist of four levels with amazing views from the sleeping rooms and restaurant. Each level will have 42 guest rooms for a total of 168 rooms when the project is complete. Some guest rooms will have fireplaces and balconies. Rooms that are ADA compliant are included and all rooms will have flat-screen televisions, individual climate control, and wireless Internet access. VIP suites also will be part of the new digs, according to Mansberger. The new areas add almost 95,000 square feet to the existing facility for a total of 158,824 square feet. “Other than the architecture of the lodge, I think our biggest compliment from overnight guests will be the enclosed walkways for rooms and the increase of views of the valley from within the building structure from many vantage points,” says Mansberger.
The main lodge entrance will look different. The current entrance as the second story will have a glass canopy for panoramic views of the mountain valley. Four elevators,
updated fire protection, electrical, and plumbing systems are all part of the scope of work that is a huge part of a project, but generally not easily recognized. Parking lot improvements, landscaping, loading dock modifications and meeting rooms also get a makeover, according to Mansberger. All renovations, additions, and upgrades, including parking lots, cover approximately 3.5 acres. The cost is $25 million. The primary contractor is Harbel, Inc. The anticipated lodge renovation project completion is slated for August 2013.
If you are looking for winter fun, find it at Canaan Valley Resort. Information about resort accommodations, skiing, and activities is posted online at www.canaanresort.com Lodging rates and specials are posted or call the state park at 304-866-4121.
**DNR**

 

NET 10 Great Ways to Have a Phone with Frugal Costs

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Net10 Wireless

We have been using the Net10 Wireless Service(pay as you go) and a great  Net10 Android LG Optimus Net with  One Month Unlimited Text/Talk/Web.  My son has had a great time trying it out and we have been anxious to see how a 12 year old can budget himself or if he can properly use a cell(hmmm, what kid gets a phone and can budget, and not over text? )

The service has helped us out a lot.  I did not believe he needed a phone.  The last month has changed my mind.  Their school bus broke down twice, a little odd, but it did and he was able to tell me why he was late and beyond normal drop off time without me calling busing, calling the school, I had all the answers first hand.  Additionally, as I have 2 other children, I often drop off and pick up everyone at the same time for sports because it all seems to happen at the same time for each kid.  I dropped him off to a hockey game, drove off to drop the other child to his activity and got a call while I was 2 miles down the road that, “mom, the game is cancelled, can you come back?”   I was more than happy to turn around and pick him up and again, his phone made the difference.

The touch screen is  really easy to use and navigate.  The service was dependable and believe me we drive everywhere.  As with anyone phone there were some ‘garbly’ moments, but I could hear him and he could hear me.  We could communicate and he could text if all else failed!

I am an advocate of this particular type of phone service due to the fact that it is something you can budget, either money wise or usage wise. As a consumer we pay WAYYYYY to much for cellular coverage.  The NET10 Plan allows you to pick how you will spend your money or your minutes.

We had choices:

There was unlimited use of data/texting/calls for as little as $50 a month, that was EVERYTHING, I pay way more than that for my cell service!  My son loved it, he used the phone as he needed and NEVER had to worry about running out of minutes.  In order to teach budgeting, we have not begun the other extreme, which has ROLLOVER minutes but has only 200 minutes.  Once they are used they are gone but it was only $20.  These minutes are with him all the time.  The one drawback here is if he begins to use the phone and runs out of minutes without realizing it, he could be left without phone service in time of need.  There are other choices that allow you to purchase monthly minutes but the minutes do not roll over, it is monthly, period.  You really have to know what you want. Then again, you could just try each different one and see what works, because the cost on ANY Of these plans is so FAR less than any cellular plan, it is almost nuts to not try it out.

This service is great for a people that may fall into any of these situations:

-phones in emergency times only

-children who are just needing a phone for minimal usage to contact parents

-those that want phone service with great flexibility and low cost

-those that want great phones with great service.

This service is an excellent way to have coverage, have a cell phone and not break the bank!

How is this great if you live by an Giant Eagle/Market District?

Now, I have to mention this:  Why in the world I would purchase a phone from Giant Eagle instead of any other wireless pay- as -you- go carrier?  Perhaps because of an item known as the Advantage Card… Fuel Perks come to mind for every $50 you spend you get .10 off gas?  “ Do I earn fuelperks! for both the purchase of my no-contract phone and prepaid wireless cards?“  Yes, your purchase of a no-contract phone and prepaid wireless cards counts toward your regular fuelperks! earnings. Earn 10¢ off per gallon of fuel for every $50 you spend! (Directly from here)

 

Net10 Wireless

 

My next release of … I am giving you the chance to win Net10 Wireless service as well as a phone! Good luck and happy holidays.

 

 

 

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”