Category Archives: Activities

Jurassic Quest comes to New Jersey!

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A few weeks ago my 6 year old son and I visited “Jurassic Quest” at the Edison New Jersey Expo Center. Was it worth the entry fee? Yes and no. I got the VIP pass for my son because he is so into Jurassic Park right now, I wanted him to experience all there was to see at the expo and make sure he was able to do everything. The thing is, it seems like they boasted the “VIP” pass as so many extras, when in reality, I do not think we even did anything “VIP” the whole time there.

The main attraction was the walk through of Dinosaurs which was amazing! It had over 30 prehistoric dino’s right in front of our faces. They were huge awesome animatronics that spanned 3 feet in some cases, and growled and roared just like you’d expect if you were back in the land before time.

In this area was a chance to “ride” a dinosaur. They had 6 set up, and this is one are that VIP came in handy because otherwise we would’ve had to buy a ticket. We still had to wait in the same line, no special line, but just flashed the wristband to climb aboard the T-Rex. I really thought my son would want to “ride” all of them, but he only chose the T-Rex and wasn’t really interested in the others after. It isn’t much of a ride, it is more of a photo op experience.

Check out the amazing area they had set up and all of the cool scenes!

Walking out of the walk through area, we saw a cool ring setup but couldn’t really get close enough to see in it. There were so many people just piled around it, there was no way to squeeze in although I would’ve found a way if my son really wanted to. I stepped on my tippy toes and was able to see if was a guy walking around showing a “baby dinosaur”. I assume it was nothing more than an adorable animatronic from photo’s I’ve seen of the events at other venues, so my son decided he didn’t care to see it, but as a VIP paying extra, I think it should’ve been a separate showing or at least a section for VIP’s to go in and out. Check out the video posted by Jurassic Quest on their youtube;

My son did enjoy the giant inflatable slides and bounce houses that were a perk of VIP, but there were lines for all of them, and after going on each once he was done.

There were some cool 4D photo sections, but VIP did NOT include them and they cost extra. We didn’t do it as my son wasn’t interested.

Everyone got to take part in the craft section which was really cute and worth the 30 minutes we sat there for him to glue the pieces all together. He left with it proudly!

The store section before we left was quite like a flea market the way everything was layed out, but the prices were nothing like one. They had a lot of cute stuff but be prepared to pay A LOT for anything you get including the cute adorable “walking” balloons like they had in the Jurassic World movie. We didn’t buy one because they were $20, but my son did buy a $26 T-Rex small figure…

All in all, he had a great time and I would definitely go again if he is still into Dinosaurs when it comes back to town. We only spent about 2 hours total there, but it wasn’t to far from my house so it wasn’t bad. Being that the VIP was only $10 more, I guess I would do it again since it included the slides and the photo ops, but I think parents should be free since kids are not permitted without an adult.

 

Intermittent Fasting 16/8 – Does it really work?

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It’s a new year, and there are many “New Year/New Me” resolutions flying around. I haven’t had a resolution in a while (see my quitting smoking post) due to the fact that they usually fail when you do not know the real reason your doing it and forced a timeline in to fit it into the New Year week. If it’s something you really want to do, you would do it anyway, not because of a new year rolling in.

Seriously, has anyone ever succeeded in keeping a New Years resolution?

Anyway, my reasoning for starting the intermittent fasting (IF), 16/8 specifically, is that my bootcamp I have been a part of for over a year now has a new challenge going on. A team challenge where a bunch of people join a team (side note; go team ThinItIoWinit!) and try to reach a common goal. They will be tracking the teams by average weight loss for 12 weeks. I do not need to lose weight, nor does the rest of my team; hence the name, but I do want to tone and be healthier.

My uncle is a trainer for a big gym in NYC, and has mentioned the 16/8 to me many times in the past. It basically re-balances your metabolism. Somewhere along the line I got into a habit of eating much more during the day than I need to. I replaced the cigarette addiction with a food addiction. I never used to be a breakfast person, but then I heard that breakfast is important for fuel source, etc… For some it may be, but for me it added to my caloric intake, and really made me feel more sluggish during the morning. I am not good at following a diet, or special meal prep plans as others are, and I actually gained weight when adding protein shakes and bars to my daily meals (the every 3 hour plan).

So this is an attempt for me to find a way to stay fit, be active, and still enjoy the foods I like while toning. My weigh in on last Friday 1/4 was 126.6. Next weigh in is Monday 1/14 and I am going to guess I will have lost 1 lb so far. I will update as the weigh in’s come.

Week 1 Intermittent fasting;

Monday 1/7 Went to the morning bootcamp class – I made a conscious decision to understand only I can control my actions and excuses were just that, excuses. I went to Dunkin’ Donuts as usual in my morning routine, but I replaced my hot coffee with extra cream and sugar drastically with green harmony leaf tea with extra lemon. I felt a little shaky without the sugar or fats, but I made it through. 7pm-11am no food- only water and green tea.

Tuesday 1/8 – Today was worse. I was fine during the first hour or so, but I started to feel very hungry and my stomach was burning. I assume it was shrinking, possibly “eating itself” I say. We had sandwiches for lunch from work, turkey cheese on a roll for lunch.

I had eaten a little later because my dinner wasn’t done by 6pm (my eating end time goal) so I ate until 7pm instead.

Wednesday 1/9 Went to the morning bootcamp class – This was probably the hardest day yet for fasting. I woke up hungry, and was even telling myself “get a coffee light and sweet, you’ll be fine it’s only a coffee” but I faught it and got a green tea with ZERO sugar and only a fresh lemon. As the morning progressed, the hunger was worse, I felt nauseas but after the first few hours it got a little better. I was in a rush to eat my cheddar bagel twist right at 10am, I ate a sandwich witht turkey and cheese for lunch and leftover corned beef and cabbage for dinner. It was a really hectic evening after work and I was running around until 9pm at night so I am sure I burned my dinner off quickly.

Thurday 1/10 – I am much more lenient on the food addiction today, I can tell already. I feel much better in general, my stomach isn’t burning as much although growling a bit. I think it shrunk already actually in just 4 short fasting days. I haven’t ate since 630pm last night and I am still going strong at 11am. It actually reminds me just of quitting smoking cold turkey. Day 1, 2, and 3 were the hardest and then it got easier as the days went on and the habit changed. We will see.

Friday 1/11 – This day went by so fast in the morning before I knew it, it was lunch time! I did not eat too healthy today. I got a sandwich with breaded chicken and peppers. Stopping eating at 7pm on a weekend was really hard, but I did it!

The weekend was the hardest. Saturday I had to work 6am-8pm away from home, so it wasn’t too bad, but I did sneak in my light and sweet coffee a half hour early during my drive to Philly. Sunday… well it was hard but I stuck to my guns and did it.

I am not going to update daily for 12 weeks, but I’ll update as I get my weigh ins and provide some details on what happened.

Monday 1/14/19 first weigh in 6am – I am down 1.8lbs (2 probably really but I had my heart monitoring belt on). The week prior was really tough, but I did not eat super healthy which is key. I was able to eat WHAT I want, just not WHEN I wanted. The number one thing I cut out as my morning coffee with milk and sugar. I replaced it with green tea with lemon instead. 

 

Liberty Science Center Winter Fun

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The Libery Science Center has transformed for Winter and has added some new EXTRA FUN attractions to keep your family having fun this Winter.

Some of the new exhibits are the Doc McStuffin’s area where kids can be kids.  They learn and play with vet-tech equipment and fantasy play areas like kitchens and houses.

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This exhibit is best for younger children, but my boys still had fun exploring the areas and trying out the fun stuff.

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Check them out thinking about being a doctor!

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The next new exhibit on the featured exhibit floor its the Sherlock Holmes area.  This is a masterpiece! Thoughtfully done, it’ll take you onei the story as if you yourself were the detective and author of the story.

I haven’t seen anything else this interactive at LSC yet, and it is worth the $10 extra per person that it’ll cost ya to enter it. (If you’re a member it is half price).

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The journey starts with you entering and learning a bit about Sherlock Holmes himself.  Then you’re handed a journal that’ll help you through the journey which is age specific.  Kids under 8 get a photo journal, while kids 8 and over get a more interactive guide.

There are stamp stations that you visit and mark your journal at each one sort of like a passport.

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You have to choose the scenarios in which you think happened in the murder mystery and if you choose the right ones, at the end you will hold up your punched out journal to a secret board and reveal the secret message.

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Very interactive and nicely done by the LSC team.  The lighting and feeling of the exhibit sets the mood av you feel like you’re really in the story! Both of my boys really enjoyed it as did I. We all said we are definitely going back there because we didn’t quite get it right the first time, so worth visiting again.

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The same attractions you know and love are still available like the super dark Touch Tunnel. My boys went in by themselves for the first time and did so good they went twice in a row! They moved this attraction with the addition of the new Microbes exhibit, but it is still very much the same though tunnel you know and love.

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The aquarium section with a wonderful view of NYC always seems to intrigue us no matter how many times we’ve been there.

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The fish just get bigger and bigger… oh, and we found Patrick Starfish!

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The “eat and be eaten” animal exhibit is like a mini zoo. There are amphibians, monkeys, and live shows. Plenty to see and fascinate you, even the resident alligator turtle is waiting!

Another favorite that is always sure to please is the 3D Dome Theater. We watched “Black Holes” and you have to see it too believe it! They have other shows going on throughout the day like sesame street and winter laser shows, so be sure to check ther calendar to get the show you want.

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(Photo via Liberty Science Center instagram.)

It is THE BIGGEST planetarium in the Western Hemisphere! How cool?!

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I suggest if you’re going to visit the LSC that you dedicate an entire day to make sure you can see everything! There is so much to see and do for all ages and is a perfect Winter activity.

There is a food court on the 2nd floor and the entire place is stroller friendly. Enjoy!

Interested in other activities at ther LSC? Check out my other posts including the infinity climber grand opening and back in time with Dino Dig.

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Toy Story 4 is coming!!

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I am so excited to share with you that Woody and the rest of the toys are back for an all-new adventure in “Toy Story 4,” welcoming new friends to Bonnie’s room, including a reluctant new toy called Forky. “Like most people, I assumed that ‘Toy Story 3’ was the end of the story,” said director Josh Cooley. “And it was the end of Woody’s stmoory with Andy. But just like in life, every ending is a new beginning. Woody now being in a new room, with new toys, and a new kid, was something we have never seen before. The questions of what that would be like became the beginning of an entertaining story worth exploring.”

A teaser trailer slated to debut with “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” in theaters Nov. 21, is available today. Check out the new teaser trailer here:

 

But Forky insists that he is NOT a toy! An actual spork-turned-craft-project, Forky is pretty sure that he doesn’t belong in Bonnie’s room. Unfortunately, every time he tries to get away, someone yanks him back into an adventure he’d rather skip. “The world of Toy Story is built upon the idea that everything in the world has a purpose,” said Cooley. “A toy’s purpose is to be there for its child. But what about toys that are made out of other objects? Forky is a toy that Bonnie made out of a disposable spork, so he’s facing a crisis. He wants to fulfill his purpose as a spork, but now has a new toy purpose thrust upon him.”

Filmmakers called on comedian Tony Hale to provide the voice of Forky. “It’s a huge thrill to be part of the Toy Story family,” he said. “But it’s going to take a while for it to really sink in.”

Said Cooley, “When we thought up this character, Tony was the first actor that came to mind and I’m thrilled he accepted. Tony’s performance as Forky is a comedy salad of confidence, confusion, and empathy… served by hilarious spork.”

How were filmmakers able to convince Hale to give voice to Forky? “A utensil’s existential crisis?” he asked. “I’m in!”

U.S. Release Date:  June 21, 2019

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Voice Cast:  Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Jeff Pidgeon, Blake Clark, Tony Hale

Director:  Josh Cooley

Producers:  Jonas Rivera, Mark Nielsen

NOTES:

  • “Toy Story,” originally released on Nov. 22, 1995, was the first fully computer animated feature film and the highest grossing movie of the year. It was nominated for three Oscars® and two Golden Globes®. 

 

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET opening in theatres everywhere November 21st

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RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET opening in theatres everywhere November 21st

In RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET, video-game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak’s arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet where they rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way. Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces—so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he’s ever had. Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” writer, “Cedar Rapids”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt,” “Lilo & Stitch”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.

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GAME CHANGER
New World Tests the Strength of Friendship
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” takes Ralph and Vanellope to a vast, unfamiliar world with
endless possibilities. When filmmakers put themselves in the characters’ shoes, they
realized Ralph and Vanellope would have completely different points of view when it came
to the internet. Says director Rich Moore, “They’re like a couple of small-town kids who
venture into the big city. One falls in love with the city, while the other one can’t wait to go
home.”

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“Ralph is in love with the life that he has,” adds director Phil Johnston. “But Vanellope is
ready for a change—she wants to spread her wings a little. That creates conflict within
their friendship, which becomes the heart of the story.”
“I love that the film is about change,” says producer Clark Spencer. “Two best friends are
about to realize that the world won’t always be the same. The internet is the perfect
setting, really, because it’s all about change—things change by the second.”
The story kicks off in the arcade, where Ralph and Vanellope have been living
harmoniously—fulfilling their duties in their games during the day and hanging out together
in their neighboring arcade games at night. “Vanellope is lamenting the fact that her game
is getting a little boring,” says Johnston. “So, Ralph takes it upon himself to amplify the
excitement in Sugar Rush. And Ralph being Ralph—it doesn’t go exactly as planned.”
Ralph’s shenanigans trigger a chain of events that culminate with a player in the arcade
accidentally breaking the steering wheel off Vanellope’s game. When Litwak learns that a
replacement part would cost more than the game makes in a year, he has no choice but to
unplug Sugar Rush and sell it for parts. “The part they need to fix the game is at a place on
the internet called eBay,” says Pamela Ribon, who co-wrote the screenplay with Johnston.
“Ralph and Vanellope have never heard of the internet, much less eBay, but Litwak has
installed a router, so the arcade is actually online for the first time. They decide to take the
leap into this unknown world and travel to the internet in order to find the steering wheel
and save Vanellope’s game.
“The internet strikes them as loud, fast, crazy and completely unpredictable,” continues
Ribon. “Ralph is nervous and uncomfortable, and Vanellope is smitten, of course.”

 

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An Afternoon with a former New York Yankee at iPlay America! 

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Come spend An Afternoon with former New York Yankee, Tino Martinez! The first hour will be a moderated Q&A session with the audience and Tino. The remainder of the time is for meet & greets! VIP Package ticketholders go first, followed by Photo Op ticketholders.Please carefully read all packages to ensure that you are purchasing exactly what you would like.

Tickets can be ordered from HERE and details below;

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VIP Package WITH my readers special code – tino (must apply at link above)
Ticket includes admission into the Q&A, one (1) personal item to be signed by Tino Martinez, and one (1) professional photo with Tino. Each VIP Package permits ONE (1) guest/parent to accompany the ticketholder. The guest is NOT permitted to meet Tino, receive any photos, autographs, or collateral. The guest MAY accompany ticketholder into the Q&A session. **NO PERSONLIZATIONS OR INSCRIPTIONS**

VIP Package $150
Ticket includes admission into the Q&A, one (1) personal item to be signed by Tino Martinez, and one (1) professional photo with Tino. Each VIP Package permits ONE (1) guest/parent to accompany the ticketholder. The guest is NOT permitted to meet Tino, receive any photos, autographs, or collateral. The guest MAY accompany ticketholder into the Q&A session. **NO PERSONLIZATIONS OR INSCRIPTIONS**

Photo Op Package $60
Package includes admission into the Q&A, one (1) professional photo with Tino Martinez, and one (1) commemorative photo of Tino Martinez. This package does not include any autographs. Each Photo Op Package permits ONE (1) guest/parent to accompany the ticketholder. The guest is NOT permitted to meet Tino, receive any photos, autographs, or collateral. The guest MAY accompany ticketholder into the Q&A session. EXTRA ITEM TICKET CAN NOT BE ADDED TO THIS PACKAGE.

Q&A Ticket $25
Ticket includes admission for one (1) person into the one (1) hour Q&A session with Tino Martinez. This ticket is ONLY for the Q&A session, no meet & greet, autographs, etc.

Extra Item Ticket $55
YOU MUST PURCHASE A VIP PACKAGE (NOT PHOTO OP PACKAGE) FOR THIS TICKET TO BE VALID. This ticket allows a VIP TICKETHOLDER to bring one (1) extra personal item to be signed. (MAX 2 EXTRA ITEMS PER PERSON! VIP Package already comes with one (1) item to be signed.  If one (1) Extra Item Ticket is purchased, VIP Package ticketholder will be allowed to have two (2) items signed total. If two (2) Extra Item Tickets are purchased, the VIP ticketholder is permitted to have three (3) items signed total. Please read carefully as these tickets will not be refunded.

Legendary MLB Athlete Tino Martinez, NFL Star Sam Darnold to Come to iPlay America

Freehold, N.J., November 2, 2018 – Four-time World Series Champion and Olympic gold medalist, Tino Martinez, and third-overall 2018 NFL draft pick and starting quarterback for New York’s “Team Green”, Sam Darnold, will be appearing at iPlay America. Martinez will be appearing on Saturday, November 10, and Darnold will be at iPlay America on Tuesday, December 11 for meet & greets with fans.

 

Tino Martinez is a two-time MLB All-Star with a Silver Slugger Award and Monument Park honoree at Yankee Stadium. Fans can spend the afternoon with world-champion Martinez as he recalls moments from his note-worthy career with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. Doors will open on November 10 at 11:00 AM and the event will begin at 12:00 PM. VIP and photo-op ticket packages, as well as Q&A tickets are available for purchase. To view package options, visitwww.iplayamerica.com/event/afternoon-tino-martinez/.

 

Sam Darnold is the current quarterback for New York’s “Team Green” and third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Before being drafted to NY, Darnold played for the University of Southern California. He will be spending the evening at iPlay America on Tuesday, December 11, giving fans the chance to meet him in person. Doors will open at 5:00 PM and the event will begin at 6:00 PM. Meet & greet packages are available for purchase atwww.iplayamerica.com/event/sam-darnold/.

 

“Meet & greets and Q&A sessions with notable athletes are always sought after by our fan base,” said Jessica Schwartz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for iPlay America. “We’re excited to present New York sports fans with the opportunity to interact with two local stars from the MLB and NFL with our Tino Martinez and Sam Darnold meet & greets.”

Check out what else is happening at iPlay America throughout the remainder of the year;

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About iPlay America

iPlay America is the place to Get Inside the Fun! Its all indoor, family-friendly themed environment provides guests nearly four acres of outstanding rides, games, and attractions making it the perfect destination for FUN year round! The Event Center @IPA is home to concerts, corporate events, expos, galas, trade shows, company outings, sporting events, social gatherings, and every kind of party. iPlay America offers guests a mouth-watering selection of Boardwalk style fare, classic American cuisine at Game Time Bar & Grill, and an impressive event catering menu. ALWAYS free to enter, iPlay America’s guests can enjoy exciting attractions like 2-level Laser Tag, Indoor Go-Kart Track, Spinning Coaster and the Sky Trails® High Ropes Course (the largest indoor ropes course in New Jersey). iPlay America is a 2017 winner of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Service. For FUN, fine food, and events of any size, the award winning iPlay America is the place to Get Inside the Fun. iPlay America is located on Route 9 at 110 Schanck Road in Freehold, New Jersey.