My family and I have never been to Animal Kingdom or Epcot. We always thought we’d save those two parks for when our kids got older. Now they are older and those two are actually the FIRST two we will hit with a vengeance when we get to Orlando.
And oh boy I cannot wait!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park is divided into 7 areas:
•Oasis
•Discovery Island® area
•Camp Minnie-Mickey
•Africa
•Rafiki’s Planet Watch® area
•Asia
•Dinoland, U.S.A.® area

I don’t know how receptive my 3-year-old will be when seeing so many animals up close and personal, but it will be interesting for all of us. Especially the fact that it actually looks like the animals in the safari can get to us, but they actually can’t.

Here are some highlights of Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

Attractions

Attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park include exciting expeditions and wild adventures with animals. Get close to creatures, from the whimsical to the mighty, from feathered to fanciful. Use Disney’s FASTPASS system on popular attractions to reduce wait times.

Entertainment

Entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park includes elaborate parades, performances that feature nearly 20 species of birds and big-as-Broadway musical-stage shows and Disney Character meet and greets. For show schedules, check the Park calendar or Times Guide.

Adventures

Take a walk on the wild side with Wild Africa Trek—a VIP adventure where you can enjoy close encounters with crocodiles, hippos and other exotic animals.

Dining

Dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park means sampling American, African and Asian-inspired cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner in restaurants that offer a range of experiences from quick-service to Character Dining to wildly themed.

Shopping

Shopping at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park means finding authentic African art and imports—like baskets, masks and jewelry—as well as staples and souvenirs, such as film, sunscreen, plush toys, postcards, Disney Character merchandise and family apparel.

Tours

Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park offers several unique animal-related special experiences, including the Backstage Safari Tour, the Wild By Design Tour and the new Wild Africa Trek—where you can get closer to the animals than ever before!

I must say there is nothing worst for a woman than to want a baby so very bad and not having the ability to have one. I’m called Cincomom for reason. I’ve had five babies pretty easily.

I’m blessed to have some great genes, I guess. I’ve had no problem having five babies naturally. But I’ve also suffered having a miscarriage in the past as well.

Bethenny Frankel, the Skinnygirl Martini mogul and breakout Housewife star just revealed that she had a miscarriage at eight weeks. That’s painful for any mom. Bethanny does have one daughter. But now at 41 she’s faced with trying to expand her family at an age that makes it a lot tougher. Good luck Bethenny and try again, but next time take a break, have a seat and luxuriate and don’t work too hard. You need to rest! Read more from E! Online below:

Things haven’t been so happily ever after for Bethenny Frankel.

Aside from her marriage dramas on the third season of Bethenny Ever After, the reality star went on Today Monday morning and revealed some sad news—that she suffered a miscarriage while she was eight weeks pregnant.

MORE: Bethenny Frankel Addresses Show Controversy, Real Housewives of New York City Firings and More

When asked if she and hubby Jason Hoppy were considering expanding their family, Frankel said, “I’m 41…It’s a very personal question that I get asked a lot. We were pregnant with a second baby and at eight weeks I miscarried and that was a very emotional experience. It had a lot of different things that came with it.”

“Thinking about women who can’t have their own baby, even the first baby, I’m really lucky,” Frankel continued, holding back tears. “I have the most beautiful daughter in the world and I’m grateful for her.”

Frankel said following the incident she hasn’t been sure if an additional sibling for her 21-month-old, Bryn, is still in the cards.

MORE: Poor Little Rich Girl Alert: Did Bethenny Frankel’s Net Worth Just Drop $91.9 Million?!

“I’m 41 and I don’t know,” the Skinny Girl cocktail mogul went on. “It’s not really my choice. It’s not really my option and the window’s closing and it’s something that I’m dealing with…I’m not really thinking about it. I don’t know what my options are. I do have an incredible daughter. I feel like she’s perfect.”

“I honestly have thought about other women more than myself…The first thing I thought about was ‘Oh, my God. I can’t believe what people must go through if they can’t even have the one,’” Frankel continued.

Fans of Bethenny Ever After shouldn’t expect to see the miscarriage discussed this season, however.

Frankel said the incident happened recently, and “has not been dealt with on the show.”

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/bethenny_frankel_reveals_she_had/295569#ixzz1n1QRjqWI

I am so excited to announce that I am headed to our nation’s capital as a special invited guest to meet President Barack Obama for the Official Visit of Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and his wife, Samantha Cameron!
This special Tweetup is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14th, 2012!

Oh when you dream a little dream… They DO come true!

This is the highest honor of all honors for me!

There is nothing that will compare to this experience. I have DREAMED of meeting the President and Michelle and I am so happy to attend this ceremony. I am the everyday American being a mom of five kids, who works hard and is now a business owner of Atlanta Diaper Relief and believes everyday that good-old-fashioned smarts and hard work can turn the tide in your life and turn dreams into a reality.

I was also told that I could invite one person. So of course I invited my husband, but after much thought he declined to go because he will be taking several days off work in April to go to Disney with me as an invited guest to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Trust me he’s sick over the fact he won’t be going to Washington to meet our favorite President. But at the end of the day, we are a typical American family and somebody’s gotta work and make the bread!

So I invited the next person who would be in line to go: My mother Janice. And when I told her I think she screamed for an hour! I am so happy to have my mom by my side for this special day. Especially for someone who has seen the changes that have come around in the last 60 years. I am happy and proud to take her to see the first black President of the United States. This is just too great for words.

So with that said, make sure YOU follow this Whitehouse event by following me on Twitter.com/KiaMorganSmith or Friend me on Facebook.com/KiaMorganSmith

Stay tuned for realtime tweets from the @Whitehouse on March 14th! And thank you to the Whitehouse for this opportunity for an everyday American like myself to attend this event!

The story is about a family of little people who live the below the floorboards undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.

I loved the story and Arrietty’s mom really stole the show and was quite dramatic as most women are. The mom was voiced by funnylady Amy Poehler.

This movie is presented by Disney, but it’s not the usual Disney animation. This movie reminds me of the cartoon Go Speed Racer. Remember that?

It was a sweet story that reminded me that sometimes you may have to trust and lean on the ones you think you’ll need the least. The little girl Arrietty was just as ornery as most young kids. She dared to venture out on her own against her parent’s wishes and she was even brave enough to orchestrate a rescue.

Your kids will enjoy this little tale, but more importantly they will learn some great lessons about friendships and love.

ABOUT THE MOVIE
From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The film hits theaters TODAY Feb. 17, 2012.

‘Like’ THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on Facebook
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theaters everywhere on February 17th! Go TODAY!

Walt Disney died well before I was born but for some reason I remember seeing his picture all the time on TV as a kid. And of course Mickey Mouse and Minnie and Donald Duck and Goofy and Pluto and all the Disney characters were staples around the world and in my home.

I LOVED Mickey just like every other little kid, but I wasn’t one of the lucky ones like some of my other fellow mommy blogger friends who said they have been going to Disney since they were a kid.

I never visited Disney as a kid. My mom just didn’t have the money. But it always remained the one place I have always wanted to visit. And because I was never able to go I vowed once I had kids that I would make Disney World our number one vacation destination.

And I did.

I met my husband in 2001 and even before we started having kids together, we took our first vacation to Disney World with my oldest daughter Kaelani and my niece Brianna.

And since then, it has been non-stop. I love it because it’s just one of the nicest places you’ll ever visit. When you vacation you want to have a good time and peace of mind and Disney folks make sure of that. They are very accommodating.

And Disney World is perfect for little ones who often can’t get on rides because they are too small. Well it’s definitely a great place for them to play.

I am so glad to be returning to Disney this year. This time we get to take my first grandchild to Disney too. Oh what a delight this will truly be. All of my family are going and we all have Hopper passes to visit all of the parks! Not only that, but some of the best gals I know who are bloggers are coming along with their families and we will just have a ball together!!

I’m so excited. And I’m not gonna hide it!!

This is the SECOND post of a series that I’ll be doing as we countdown to Disney. Whether you’re going to the conference, too, or are planning your own trip to WDW sometime soon, I’d love it if you followed along!

ATLANTA (Feb. 1, 2012) — Grammy Award-winner and philanthropist Ne-Yo, fashion designer Tracy Reese and Essence president Michelle Ebanks are joining Coca-Cola in a refreshing new Black History Month program urging African Americans to “pay it forward” to the next generation.

The world’s most recognized brand celebrates Black history being made today, and aims to cultivate history yet to come, with the launch of “Coca-Cola Pay It Forward.” The program includes a public service challenge and online contest offering teens once-in-a-lifetime apprenticeship experiences with

some of today’s leading celebrity history makers — Ne-Yo, Reese and Ebanks. “Coca-Cola Pay It Forward” is designed to inspire African Americans to take an active role in empowering today’s youth to become tomorrow’s history makers.

“‘Coca-Cola Pay It Forward’ charges each of us with the responsibility to advance the next generation,” said Kimberly Paige, assistant vice president, African American Marketing Group, Coca-Cola North America. “By drinking and supporting Coca-Cola, our consumers make it possible for us to pay it forward with this one-of-a-kind opportunity. We strongly encourage moms and dads to participate in the mission – simply by nominating their teens for the unique apprenticeship experiences. We also invite the rest of the country to pay it forward to young people in their homes and communities – helping them to achieve their education and career goals this Black History Month and beyond.”

Starting today, parents can go to My Coke Rewards (www.mycokerewards.com/payitforward) and nominate their child, age 16-19, for a chance to win an apprentice experience. The four “mom approved” and “teen endorsed” apprenticeships will focus on the following areas: fashion (Reese),

business (Ebanks), music/entertainment and community/philanthropy (Ne-Yo). Winners will spend a week this summer in New York City or Atlanta being mentored by and shadowing their celebrity history makers and teams. Teens are also invited to nominate themselves. The contest runs through March 15.

“We have all benefited from those who came before us; our success stands on their shoulders,” said Ne-Yo, recording artist, songwriter, producer, actor and founder of The Compound Foundation. “Without my mom and mentors, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am happy, through my charity, The Compound Foundation, to partner with Coca-Cola and help pay it forward to the next generation.”

In addition to awarding the national celebrity apprenticeship experiences, Coca-Cola will leverage corporate and community partnerships to provide local opportunities in select cities, including Atlanta, Memphis, Detroit, Birmingham and Chicago, expanding the program’s reach.

The Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Movement Coca-Cola urges African Americans to join in its national movement to pay it forward to the teens in their lives by helping them achieve their education and career aspirations. A public service announcement featuring Ne-Yo will run on radio stations across the country issuing the “Pay It Forward” challenge.

Paige encourages every adult to become involved with a youth by: mentoring; offering inspirational words; helping with homework; and exposing him or her to different career opportunities. The public is invited to share ways it is paying it forward this month by posting its contributions on Twitter and using the hashtag #PayItForward.

The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world’s most valuable brand, our Company’s portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

I can remember being a kid, living on Ithan Street in Philly and everyday, hour on the hour, my mom would play Whitney Houston’s debut CD and dance around with her curly hair thinking she was Whitney herself and singing songs off-tune as if she could hit every note like the songbird herself.

My mom LOVED Whitney Houston and still does and her love and affection for the singer rubbed off on me as a young girl. Whitney was statuesque and beautiful. And she looked like everything I wanted to be. I was a skinny kid and always picked on by my peers. I wanted to be like Whitneywho exuded confident and she was glamorous and it seemed she was everybody’s golden girl. Living the life we all seemingly wanted to emulate.

So it saddens me so very much to know she died yesterday February 11th, definitely far too early to be taken from us all. She was soaring again in her life and had just finished up a revision of the movie Sparkle and was living and loving life and had resurfaced looking healthy and well after years of living a troubled life that I won’t even rehash because the past is the past.

I mourn for her mother Cissy, her relatives, Aunt Dionne Warwick and my God, her young daughter Bobbi Kristina. I still have my mother here on earth and even as I approach 40 years old, can’t imagine going on in life without my mom who is my dear friend.

So I know the hurt and pain runs deep for Cissy too who has lost a child. My husband lost his oldest son two years ago and still it’s a cut and a hurt that will never be healed, especially when a child has gone too soon.

Our dear sister Whitney Houston is gone, but not forgotten, NEVER forgotten. RIP and let’s keep her family in our prayers.

Boys and Girls, Moms and Dads, listen up! I just attended a FANTASTIC show on Saturday and was pretty blown away because I thought it was an ordinary puppet show. But I was FOOLED. BIG TIME.

Ruth and The Green Book is ONE FANTASTIC SHOW. OMG.

It’s like a little Broadway production packed with puppets! I’m serious folks.

So, I won a contest to see this play which I thought would just be puppets talking on stage about the book Ruth and the Green book (I’ll get back to the book in a minute). I usually get invited to this kind of stuff to review as a blogger, but this time I didn’t but was glad to win the tickets and take my two girls to see it.

But this puppet show had real people dancing and jiving and singing and I mean SINGING some SOULFUL songs that made you want to jump up and out of your seat! I was SHOCKED. I had NO IDEA what I was in for. And what I saw I was PLEASANTLY surprised and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the show. Now let me tell you what it’s all about (I had to gush about it for a minute).

Now, it’s never easy explaining to my kids why the color of our brown once mattered to so many people. The fact is, sometimes in some instances it still matters to some people. It’s a constant conversation that needs to be discussed to ensure they don’t adopt any racist ways. So today it nice to have that conversation with my girls and they got to see the puppet show Ruth and The Green Book “which takes a simpler, more family-friendly approach to a fraught moment in American history. Adapted and directed by Jon Ludwig from the children’s book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Floyd Cooper, Ruth and the Green Book presents a hopeful, exuberant musical without glossing over the evils of segregation.”

My kids appreciated the story and got to meet the cast after the show. Mikaela asked the cast members if they were scared to perform in front of the crowd. They said it was a great question and yes they do get scared. I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this play and I CANNOT TELL YOU ENOUGH to go take your whole family to see this. It’s not boring one bit! It was so interesting how the actors worked the puppets and how well they fused together with the puppets and it was not distracting at all. Okay maybe I’m just a newbie to all of this because I’ve never attended a puppet show before. But I thought they did a superb job singing and making the puppets dance and move and how it all seemed to just come to life. I was WOWED.

Do not let this play leave Atlanta without going to see it Feb. 7-26, Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring Street. Kudos to the cast members/puppeteers for their stellar performances. I thought it was fantastic and I look forward to seeing MORE shows  at the Center for Puppetry Arts. They truly set the standard for how puppet shows SHOULD look like. I hope next time I get INVITED by the Center for Puppetry Arts to blog about it *wink, wink* Great work!

BY CREATIVE LOAFING

“Travel is fatal to prejudice,” a quotation from Mark Twain, appeared on the cover of The Negro Motorist Green Book in the 1950s. The guide provided an invaluable service to African-American travelers in the Jim Crow era by identifying safe service stations, restaurants and boarding houses. The Green Book itself has traveled across the decades to inspire two stage plays in Atlanta’s 2011-2012 theatrical season. Last fall, Theatrical Outfit’s The Green Book used such characters as a go-getting young salesman and a Jewish Holocaust survivor to explore the different facets of racism in American following World War II.

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ world premiere production Ruth and the Green Book takes a simpler, more family-friendly approach to fraught moment in American history. Adapted and directed by Jon Ludwig from the children’s book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Floyd Cooper, Ruth and the Green Book presents a hopeful, exuberant musical without glossing over the evils of segregation.

Mixing live actors and puppetry, the Center’s play unfolds from the perspective of Ruth (Tara Lake), a young girl from Chicago with little notion of the institutional prejudice that exists outside the city in 1952. When Ruth’s father and mother (Spencer Stephens and composer S. Renee Clark) take the girl on a trip to see her grandmother in Alabama, she’s dismayed to discover the “Whites Only” signs apparently everywhere. On the road, Ruth and her family have to sleep in the car and go to the bathroom in the woods. The family even takes a 200-mile detour to North Carolina simply out of the promise of safe lodging.

Many of Ruth’s musical numbers express the optimism and song stylings of the 1950s boom years, particularly doo-wop rock-and-roll. The father first appears with a gorgeous replica of a 1952 Buick convertible painted “sea mist green,” and the family sings about the excitement of travel. The father sings, “This fireball engine’s gonna take me places.” “Just look out for the racists,” interjects a neighbor. The numbers take an angrier turn as the family drives further South, and a song enumerating the hateful Jim Crow laws evokes the angry soul anthems of the 1960s.

Occasionally the conflicts of Ruth and the Green Book, particularly the denial of services, seems an awkward match to the medium of puppetry, given how the story involves realistic characters in a oft-depressing situations, with many of the adults’ strongest emotions held in check. In 2006, the doll-like puppets of Bobby Box’s Anne Frank: Within and Without conveyed both the child protagonist’s youth and the fact that she and her family were pawns of history during the Holocaust. Ruth and the Green Book attempts a more challenging balancing act between harsh truths and a positive message.

At best, the distinction between the puppets and the performers conveys a sense of history. The puppeteers, always visible onstage and wearing 1950s-appropriate costumes, at times address the audience directly, in the “present.” They provide context for the 1952 dilemma of how to oppose an unjust law and early in the show even perform a rap song about the importance of remembering the past.

Fortunately the original Green Book embodies a proactive attitude in the face of prejudice. A song about its services conveys the idea of businesses and individuals linked across the continent to assist African-Americans. In an era of social networks and crowd-sourcing, the solidarity behind the travel guide really resonates. Overall, Ludwig crafts a show energetic and spirited enough to ensure that the audience will connect with Ruth and her family, as well as leave with a sense that society is improvable. Viewers who rallied people to see the film Red Tails, about a slightly earlier chapter in African-American history, should also throw their support behind the Center’s socially progressive puppet show.

Ruth and the Green Book. Feb. 7-26, Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring Street. www.puppet.org

The black art enthusiast and a big Romare Bearden art fan was ecstatic about the Macy’s Black History Month special event honoring the legacy of the famed Artist Romare Bearden on Thursday February 9th inside Lennox Mall in Buckhead. Denene even brought her daughter Mari, who in fact was doing a report on the artist the very next day at school.

Lorraine, Lamar tyler, Denene Millner and myself

And Denene and Mari were in good company with the throngs of people who attended the event to pay homage to Bearden’s visual work and 100 year legacy.

Guests previewed a satellite exhibit of Romare Bearden’s artwork as well as the watercolors, prints, oil on paper and dramatic black and white Photostats that were on display. The paintings date from 1964 to 1984 when Romare Bearden was at the peak of his artistic power. In addition to works on loan from the Foundation are new works by artists inspired and influenced by Bearden’s life and legacy.

During the reception a new generation of jazz musicians performed Bearden’s music which has been previously recorded by Branford Marsalis, Tito Puente and Billy Eckstine.

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler of BlackandMarriedWithKids.com and BeEverywhere’s Danica Kombol and Britton Edwards hosted the packed event and were on hand to greet guests and mix and mingle. I truly enjoyed the crowd, food and conversation I had with many of my friends in attendance and I learned a great deal about Bearden’s prolific work.

Ronnie Tyler

Sojourner, myself and Krystal Grant. We all blog!

About the artist
Romare Bearden is recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the 20th century, Romare Bearden had a prolific and distinguished career. His life and art are marked by exceptional talent in a broad range of intellectual and scholarly interests, including music, performing arts, history, literature and world art.

The Romare Bearden Foundation is also one of the oldest foundations established by an African American visual artist.

The Atlanta exhibit runs from 2/9 to 2/12 at:

Macy’s Lenox Square

3393 Peachtree Road NE

Atlanta, GA

Plus, with any purchase of $50 of more, you will receive a complimentary scarf printed with Romare Bearden’s most revered work, The Lamp.

To RSVP, please call 1.305.577.1818 or visit www.macys.com/events