Chuck E. Cheese's New Menu Items - Parents, Prepare to be Wowed

(I recently had the opportunity to visit Chuck E. Cheese's as their guest. The nice folks who operate on behalf of this friendly mouse were kind enough to provide me with some free tokens and food.The opinions contained in this post are my own and are simply a reflection of my experience.)

We all know Chuck E. Cheese. Tall mouse, purple shirt, red sneakers? Growing up, I remember many a birthday party spent here. In the '90s, it was usually either here or at a roller skating rink. One advantage this rascally rodent had back then was the absence of songs like "Macarena" played on repeat. I appreciated it then and I appreciate it now.

Now that I'm a parent of toddlers, I've had the opportunity to take my own tots to this childhood staple. I was prepared for excited kids and wall-to-wall games; I wasn't prepared for the food.

Let me tell you a little secret; Chuck E. Cheese's has reinvented its menu - and it's good. While the games, atmosphere, and characters are naturally catered to little ones, their new selection of food now also speaks to parents. What does that mean for you? When Junior begs for Friday night dinner at Chuck E. Cheese's, you won't be so quick to say, "No". And when Susie gets a birthday party invitation, you might just rock it up with your husband to see who gets to take her.

Forget being limited to cheese or pepperoni, they now offer Cali Alfredo and BBQ Chicken pizzas. And the new thin & crispy crust? Let's just say I've always been partial to thicker bread, but this was a game changer. It was light and tasty and I genuinely enjoyed it. The BBQ Chicken pizza was in line with some of the specialty pies I've had from sit-down restaurants and the cheese was extra, well, cheesy. It was delicious.

Their new menu also includes sandwiches (like an oven roasted BBQ chicken on ciabatta) and wraps (think Caesar and club). Looking for breadsticks? How does soft Parmesan sound? You can also try the buffalo chicken cheesy bread. If chicken wings are more your style, they have BBQ and sweet chili (boneless or bone-in). Plus, their wings are baked, not fried.

When you're done chasing the kids and retrieving lost tickets, you can now catch your breath with desserts like churros (served with salted caramel and white chocolate icing) or their revamped cinnamon sticks.

Naturally, my kids had a blast. We had to sneak in to a party zone for a closer look (shh - don't tell anyone) because Bailey wanted to see what color shoes the 6' mouse was wearing.

From bumper cars to a small slide to the arcade games and whack-a-moles you would expect, Chuck E. Cheese's had everything you could need for a fun day out with the kids - including a delicious meal.

For more information on their new menu, visit www.chuckecheese.com/newmenu. You can also check them out on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Have your own experiences you'd like to share? Don't forget to use #CECTampa!

Happy Birthday, Bailey

True, this post is a little late, but I did say and sing "Happy Birthday" to my daughter multiple times on the actual day. That's got to count for something, right?

I remember looking back on Bailey's first year in awe of how much had happened and how much she had grown in 12 short months. Now, I'm stunned at just how much can change from one toddler birthday to the next.

From a tiny little bobble-headed newborn to a beautiful, funny little girl, this kid amazes and impresses me daily. At newly 2, she was just learning to connect her words and expand her vocabulary. As a 3 year old, she can not only string together a sentence like nobody's business, but she also creates stories, makes up songs, and tells jokes. She's even been known to play a trick or two on unsuspecting parents.

She's a great big sister (when she doesn't have her little bro in a chokehold) and she's smart. Her sense of direction is better than mine - I don't mean better than mine was at her age; I mean it's better than mine is now.

This year will be filled with laughter, accomplishments, frustrations, and fun alike. I'm excited to watch my sweet daughter continue to learn and explore her personality. I love you, Bailey. Happy birthday!

Parker's First Birthday - Already?

My baby just turned 1. I'm stuck in an odd feeling of past and present. While it no doubt feels he just made his entrance into this world, it also feels like he's always been a part of it. Of course, I can remember what life was like before Parker was born. But now, looking back, it feels like he was always there, waiting for his turn to come.

Parker has been a smiley little guy since he was born. Always happy, always laughing, and always ready to play. As the youngest, he's learned early on that he has to fight for what he wants. Sippy cups and toy trucks don't come easy in this world; you have to stand up for yourself (and, soon after, plop back down on your butt).

He understands this well and uses every opportunity to pester his sister in accrued retaliation. He has also mastered the age-old art of I'm-just-going-to-cry-and-pretend-someone-hit-me-so-I'll-get-that-toy-back. In his defense, it's usually 50/50 on whether he's implementing this technique or whether his ninja-like sister really did hit him while no one was looking.

Either way, he's Parker and he's a truly special little guy. He always has his tongue sticking out these days - less like a hot terrier and more like a mischievous leprechaun. His little giggle when he gets that sought-after toy or Veggie Straw cracks me up every time.

Watching him grow and learn and develop into a tiny person is just amazing. Seeing the way he interacts with and mimics his older sister is heartwarming. You wouldn't think listening to two toddlers screaming back and forth at each other would be so much fun.

So now, one year after the birth of my son, I just want to say that while I've always been blessed, my cup runneth over. Parker, you are a funny, intelligent, and crafty little boy. 

You're a delight to be around and that tiny grin warms my heart. I'm sorry you still don't have a completed baby book (if it makes you feel any better, neither does Bailey), but I'll get to it one of these days. For now, I'd rather spend my time chasing, tickling, and swinging you. I love you, buddy. Happy Birthday!

Potty Training: To Pee or Not to Pee?

Potty training. Depending where you are in your phase of parenthood, you either read those two little words and: a) wistfully smiled in your naivety; b) shuddered; or c) sighed in remembered relief that those days are now behind you.

If you answered A, I feel your current struggle. You’re worried the cost of diapers will put you in the poor house. Well, you’re in luck; those monetarily-challenged residents probably don’t want your bare-bottomed babe snuggling up to them – not while she’s as likely to inflict a deluge of poop as the peskiest of pigeons. Right, then. Now you’re worried the cost, and subsequent lack, of diapers will move you to the outhouse. Super.

If you answered B, I empathize with your struggle. You’ve dived into the world of teaching a tiny person how to pee into a large pot. Not only that, but you’ve also resigned yourself to sidling up beside said tot on an uncomfortable bathtub or a too-small step stool. You’ve accepted the fact that sometimes you’ll need to read five stories before she will rid herself of the poop that just last week took seconds to push into a diaper. Oh, and don’t forget the never-ending supply of candy it takes to positively reinforce the idea that using the potty is amazing. (By the way, I feel it necessary to mention that my own 2 year old matter-of-factly told me that grown-ups don’t get candy for going on the potty. That’s just what we do.)

If you answered C, I applaud you for making it to the other side. I also smile in my own wistful naivety at the idea that it will get easier by the time I stand where you are. (I’ll continue when you’re finished laughing.)

While potty training is certainly not without its challenges (keep the Lysol handy for those living room floor accidents), it can also be pretty great in the end. Yes, saving money on diapers is awesome, but it’s more than that. It’s the first time that tiny person tugs at your arm and says, “Mommy, I gotta go potty!” (Which is also the time when you realize what a fast sprinter you are.) It’s the way she beams at having done it all by herself. It’s the truly special sense of pride you feel knowing that your child is becoming an independent person, capable of anything.

Ok, so maybe potty training isn’t so bad, after all.

The Monster and the Mom (Short Story)

As parents, there are definitely days when sleep deprivation gets the better of us. You know what I'm talking about - we're grumpy, our energy levels dip into the negatives, and even the hard floor looks so inviting. You just want to curl up in a ball and drift off into a wonderfully hazy cloud of sweet, sweet sleep. But instead, you get sticky fingers shoved up your nose and drool oozing down the back of your neck. Ah, the joys of parenthood.

So in the spirit of laughing at ourselves, I hope you'll take a few minutes to enjoy this quick read. The short story in its entirety can be found at Tampa Bay Moms Blog.

"She heard the sound instantly; the baby was up. The siren-like screech darted across the house and echoed through the monitor. Her feet hit the floor, but she didn't feel the worn carpet between her toes. Her eyes were open (barely), but she didn't see the hallway. She could make the trek from her bed to the nursery in her sleep because, well, she did. Every night. Hovering over the crib, she patted the mattress for the lost treasure. She found the pacifier and effortlessly plugged the source of her wakefulness. Too late. He was up and he was hungry..." (Read more)

GIVEAWAY: 2 Tropicana Summer Fun Kids Kits!

The folks over at Tropicana recently sent me a Summer Fun Kids Kit in order for me (and, of course, the little ones) to safely enjoy the remainder of the season. 

Even though summer is fading and fall is quickly gaining on us, living in Florida means year-round opportunities to play outside - and to experience the red-hot misery of sunburn. So, in an attempt to thwart those nasty UV rays from singeing the unblemished skin of our tots, Tropicana has graciously provided two additional Summer Fun Kids Kits for giveaway!

Each kit includes sunglasses, sunscreen, coupons, and other goodies for your kids to have fun outside!

Enter below for your chance to win! Complete each task to earn additional entries! Good luck!

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Carol Hiscano: A Tribute to My Grandmother

Carol Hiscano was an incredible woman. Strong, funny, smart, and feisty - she was my grandmother and I was proud to know her. She recently passed away unexpectedly. True to form, though, she was ready and it was just tough luck if the rest of us weren't. I sure did love that about her.

My grandfather, Augie Hiscano, had already gone to the Lord and she was ready to see her sweetheart again. It wasn't lost on me that her passing occurred shortly after the ninth anniversary of his death. Now, there was a couple you could look to for hope and assurance in everlasting love. Augie and Carol Hiscano were high school sweethearts who stood by each other's side through everything. They were friends, equals, and completely in love to their last breaths.

My grandparents, Augie and Carol Hiscano, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

I'm torn between so many emotions as I grieve this enormous loss. I'm sad because I miss her terribly. She hadn't yet gotten to meet my youngest child, Parker, but she had seen plenty of pictures in the short time their lives overlapped. 

I can't help but wonder whether his arrival had something to do with the timing, as well. You see, my son, Parker Augustine, born at the end of March, was named after my grandfather. I wonder whether his birth - keeping the memory of her beloved husband alive - helped her to leave this world behind knowing he would live on in his youngest great-grandchild (and, of course, in all of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids). I also believe it helped that, since my sister-in-law had given birth to her beautiful baby boy a few months before, the birth of Parker marked the end of those great-grandchildren currently in utero.

Did she decide she was sick of waiting for her grandkids to make the trip to Miami so she could see all of those great-grandbabies? Knowing her, she may have just decided a bird's eye view would be more efficient. In any case, I know she's watching over all of them now (and laughing often).

Aside from the sadness, though, I also find myself filled with a great deal of peace. Knowing that she's back with her husband after all these years makes me smile. I doubt she needed to be told to head into the light; she probably skipped through the pearly gates eager to meet him again.

Augie and Carol in their younger days.

Coming from a small family, the loss of someone, especially someone so strong and vibrant, makes a huge impact on all of us. She, like her sweetie, was larger than this life. It's no wonder I often forget she isn't with us in this life anymore. Only when I stop to think about it - or catch myself about to call to tell her some funny story - does it fully hit me.

While it's human nature to dwell on our regrets (I should've made the trip to visit more often and I wish she had been able to meet Parker), it's important to focus on the positives. While it had been too long since we'd seen her (almost a year and a half), she had gotten to watch Bailey grow. And while she didn't get the chance to meet Parker, she had already seen a multitude of pictures in his short lifetime.

September 7th is National Grandparents Day and while my kids are still fortunate enough to have all of their grammas and grampas around, I will love, miss, and remember mine. Let's all take a moment to hug those still with us and to cherish the memories of those who have passed. Rest in peace, Gramma.