I may be a little overprotective of my kid, but I don’t think I obsess about it. Where is this coming from? Well, the past couple of times we’ve been to our local playground, I stood back and observed how other parents “watched” their children. Please keep in mind, this is a very busy playground in the middle of a city. On several occasions, I have witnessed adults without children sit down and watch kids playing and it gives me the creeps! I’m not trying to stereotype these individuals, but it seems rather bizarre.

I am always in the same vicinity as my son, but I still give him his space. At the age of 2, I know he is fast and doesn’t recognize danger.

On our last playground visit, there was a group of three women so engrossed in their conversation that their very small children (all appearing to be under the age of 3) could have disappeared and they would not have even noticed! I’m not exaggerating either, they were not even facing the same direction as their children. This went on for about 30 minutes, then the ladies finally decided it was time to take their conversation to a restaurant. Surprisingly, they did remember to gather their kids before moving on.

Then there was the father of the “bully”. My kid was quietly playing and all of the sudden this older boy came out of no where and shoved him off a plastic hammock swing. The father watched it happen and did absolutely nothing. Instead, I gave the man a glare and then encouraged my son to go to the big kid playground area since it was empty. Off we went, far away from the “dad of the year” and his brat.

The last annoying thing I’m going to mention is the mother who helped her 18 month old daughter try to walk up the slide for at least 10 minutes while kids waited to go down. No joke, at least 5 kids were standing on the platform ready to go! All it took was one impatient tot and that slide walking princess would have been a missile. Trust me, if it would have been the mother who would get hit, I would have jumped in line to try and knock her down!

It’s not my place to say something to these parents or children, instead we just find another play area or go home. Obviously, there are parents who do a terrific job watching over their kids and disciplining them, so thank you to those individuals that make playtime a good experience.

My husband and I knew it was time to get our little man’s hair cut, but this is a milestone we had been dreading. We adored his little ringlets!

For us, the decision about where to take him was an easy one…Harmony Barber Shop located inside the Magic Kingdom. They actually specialize in first haircuts. Youngsters who receive their first cut at Harmony are given fun items like bubbles, stickers, a set of “First Haircut” Mickey Mouse ears, pixie dust and a certificate. Parents are given their child’s precious locks wrapped in tissue paper.

I made a reservation by calling 407-WDW-DINE and grabbed the first appointment of the day. We were able to enter the park before it opened. I HIGHLY recommend a reservation because half way through my son’s cut, the barber shop started to become crowded.

We lucked out completely! The day of his cut, Disney was shooting a video for their blog focused on the barber shop. Since we were asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to his appointment, we had a front row seat while they taped! My son’s favorite character was the star of the video and he spent some quality time with our little guy. The Disney staff was beyond accommodating, they made our experience something we will never forget. My son received V.I.P. treatment from Mickey, stickers, toys and tons of attention. It was truly magical.

The experience inside the barber shop was just as exciting. Mary H. cut his hair and she was incredible. My son did not want to sit in the chair alone, so she cut his locks while I held him. He stayed occupied with the light up toys and stickers she kept providing him. Mary made sure my husband and I made all the decisions about how short to cut his hair and what she recommended. To be honest with you, I could not imagine taking my son anywhere else for cuts now! His hair is adorable!

I think my biggest fear was that he’d lose his curls, but thankfully his hair is just as curly!

Here’s a little video along with some photos of the special day.

If you decide to have a cut at Harmony, keep in mind the stylists can only accept cash tips. Also, tell them The Unemployed Mom sent you!

Guess what…the next MomDot Brandcation blogging event is being held in Orlando, Florida. Tickets are only $99 and include your accommodations from Thursday, November 4 – Sunday, November 7, 2010 in a luxury home. Develop new relationships and lasting memories! Hurry, there are only a few spots left!

For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit here. Let me know if you sign up!

Central Florida residents, show your support and join your friends and neighbors making strides against breast cancer! The American Cancer Society has a “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event planned at Lake Eola the morning of October 23, 2010. For more information, click here. Also, if you are interested in creating a team, you can request a team leader kit here. I have already requested my kit!

Below is a snippet of information from their website:

Each step you’ll take is personal. And each step will help save lives.
Your reason for walking in the Making Strides walk is as unique and special as the story that motivates you. This is your opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, remember people we have lost, and raise funds and awareness to help end this disease.

The Making Strides event is not a race; it is a celebration of survivorship, an occasion to express hope, and a shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. When you participate in the Making Strides event, you’re helping create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays – where breast cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life.

Hope to see all my friends there! This is an event that is very near and dear to my heart. As I mentioned before, my mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. Also, a very close family friend is currently battling this disease. Who will you make strides for?

Even though this blog was focused on the Orlando area, you can still help! To find a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event near you, click here.

After the long day we had yesterday without a nap, I woke up with one goal today…to wear my kid out to the point of exhaustion! Since we live in Orlando, visiting the Magic Kingdom in almost 100 degree weather seemed like a fun way to do it!

We arrived when the park opened and made a mad dash to the Dumbo ride. It was actually quiet until lunch time, then we made the mistake of visiting Frontier Land and could hardly walk through the crowds! But, we rode several rides, played on the playground, enjoyed some delicious snacks and danced on Main Street USA with some of our favorite Disney pals – including Mickey!

It was a  fun day! I definitely wore myself out and he seems to be sleepy…but only time will tell. Fingers crossed that he gives in and actually naps. I know I could use one!

My son and I took off walking this morning not knowing we were about to participate in the Nathaniel’s Hope, Make ‘M Smile event at Lake Eola. Make ‘m Smile is a community festival that celebrates kids with special needs (VIP kids) and their families and features a Buddy Stroll where VIP families are “buddied up” with people from around the community for a stroll around Lake Eola.

Instead of spending the morning at the playground, we put smiles on the faces of three young men as we all strolled around the Lake visiting the various booths. Our VIPs were Tyrone (30), Vladamir (30) and Meeko (22). They were very excited to be participating for the first time and eager to fill their goodie bags. Such amazing individuals, they were very appreciative that we spent two hours with them in the Florida heat.

What a fantastic event! From the face painting, music, train rides, balloons, characters, animals, free food and water (thank you CiCi’s Pizza, Chick-Fil-A, Kiwanas, Publix etc.) down to the information booths. Despite the 90+ degree temperatures, everyone had smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts! Isn’t it amazing how one little stroll can turn into such a heartfelt journey!

The other day, I took my son to a sneak peak of DisneyLive! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show at our local library. The event was supposed to give everyone a chance to see what the new traveling road show was all about; however, we hardly got a glimpse. First off, there were at least 500 children ranging from infants up with their parents or teachers. There were dozens of buses parked outside the library, so I should have expected a large crowd…but I never imagined seeing THAT MANY people sitting on the floor inside the library.

The show started 20 minutes late and the crowd grew restless. The children were chanting “Mickey Mouse” at the top of their lungs, but it still didn’t speed up the pace. I’m not sure what the problem was, perhaps the traveling road show forgot their GPS and couldn’t find the library? Finally, someone came out to read a story to the children. Keep in mind, the book was normal sized so the only people who actually saw the pictures were the fortunate ones seated up front.

Once the story that no one could see or hear was over, the chanting for Mickey started again. Finally, the show was about to start and the excitement was building. Tigger took the stage and danced for less than 2 minutes (I am not exaggerating). Then, a library worker announced that everyone could meet Tigger, just stand in line. Was she serious? They wanted 500 kids to stand in line to meet Tigger? This wasn’t Disney World! That would take forever! But, the kids raced to the stage and it was complete chaos. The parents started asking whether the show was over and if Mickey and Minnie would make an appearance (the advertisements said that Tigger, Mickey and Minnie would be performing).

Long story short, the unorganized chaos continued with the people flocking on stage to touch Tigger and take photos with him. The line concept was useless. Many parents packed their kids in strollers and left. Buses started filling up and the crowd was cut in half. Finally, Mickey and Minnie walked out and the screams were out of control by those remaining. They did not perform, instead…you guessed it, there was another announcement to form a line to meet them.

My kid was going nuts, he is infatuated with Mickey so we tried to stand in the non-existing line. We waited for 10 minutes and didn’t even take one step forward, so I promised him we’d see Mickey another day and we left (I guess I’ll be buying season passes again after all).

There were Disney Live $3 off coupons being handed out (sorry, but that doesn’t even begin to cover ticketmaster’s outrageous fees that they tack on). I laughed because this preview was supposed to get us excited about the show, yet I have no clue what it is going to be about. My coupon went straight into my recycling bin!

I do not want to sound unappreciative because it was a free activity; however, I am extremely disappointed with the lack of coordination. From now on, I’m sticking to Toddler Time ONLY at the library!

Yesterday, I took my son to the Pull-Ups Potty Party at the Central Florida Zoo. I have planned many corporate events in my professional career but I must say, I was impressed! Pull-Ups knows how to throw a bash! Despite the unseasonably cold weather in Orlando, parents still bundled their little ones and stood in line for the event.

Let me paint a picture for you…upon entering, children were greeted by enthusiastic Pull-Ups crew members. Girls received star wands, boas and tutus while the little boys were given top hats and bow ties. The room was kid friendly with small tables and chairs, soft bean bags, and colorful shag rugs. I personally loved the potty chairs with floral centerpieces, they were adorable. The bathrooms had complimentary pull-ups as well as potty chairs to encourage little ones to “ditch the diapers”.

Children tried to sit still long enough to have their faces painted or cartoon drawings done of themselves. But the sitting still part was difficult not only because they were toddlers, but because the dance floor was colorful and inviting. It didn’t take long for kids and parents to start breaking it down, especially when Ralph’s World started playing. Everyone (young and old) danced and had a fantastic time.

What an incredible show Ralph’s World put on! I had the privilege of meeting Ralph and his crew and they are the warmest, most genuine people. You can tell how much they love performing and every child in that room felt special! At the end of the show, they invited all the children on stage to help with the final song. At that point, the mom paparazzi went wild snapping photos left and right of their little prince and princesses performing with the band.

The event was at capacity and I noticed some families were turned away since they did not RSVP. If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend the Potty Dance Party in Orlando, I have some good news. First, there are two more Pull-Ups Potty Parties that will be taking place in Minneapolis and Seattle. If you haven’t done so already, I highly recommend you RSVP. Further details can be found here.

Also, I will be having a giveaway in the very near future. Lucky readers can have their own Potty Party with Pull-Ups gift bags I will be offering. Each bag contains a package of Pull-Ups (size 2T-3T), dance steps for The Potty Dance, a dvd of Ralph’s World performing The Pull-Ups Potty Dance, a Big Kid Central Potty Training Success DVD, and an Autographed copy of Ralph’s newest cd “All Around Ralph’s World”.

Stay tuned for contest details!

I am being compensated by Pull-Ups for my role as spokesperson, however the opinions and feelings expressed here are my own.

As you may or may not know, Nissan has created a 100% electric car appropriately named the LEAF. This car produces zero emissions and runs completely off of a lithium-ion battery. Yes, that means there is no gas tank, no engine oil, no timing belts and no tail pipe! Imagine never having to stop for gas again! Doesn’t that sound amazing?

LEAF is a five passenger electric car with all the safety amenities Nissan is known for. The lithium-ion battery allows the LEAF to run for 100 miles on a single charge. The first question that came to mind is how expensive is it to charge the battery? Well, apparently it costs less than $3 per charge (do the math, that gives you 100 miles for less than $3). My next question is how powerful can a 100% electric car be? Well, they claim it has 100% torque off the line.

The website also indicates you can use your smart phone to program the car remotely! This reminds me of something out of a Jetson’s cartoons!

Exciting news for my green friends in Orlando. Nissan is hosting the only public LEAF event in Florida this upcoming Tuesday, February 2 in downtown Orlando. The event is informal, free and will have fun activities to learn more about the LEAF, electric vehicles, battery charging and other relevant topics.

Details are as follows:

• Date: February 2, 2010
• Location: Orlando City Hall Plaza (400 S Orange Ave)
• Time: 4-7 pm

Let me know if you go to the event. I’d love to hear thoughts on this one! I am also curious how expensive this car is, I have not been able to find any specifics.

Orlando is not the happiest place on Earth tonight, instead the locals are all hanging their heads. While we are proud of our talented Orlando Magic team for earning the Eastern Conference title, we are heart broken about the missed opportunity to bring home the championship trophy.

I’m not going to make excuses why we couldn’t seal the deal. It is very unfortunate because this is the most talented team Orlando has ever seen! Some will point fingers and say it was because of missed free throws or whatever, but come on…there were 5 games played and we only won 1 (although, we should have won 3 of those).

Kobe Bryant was determined tonight, I understand why people say he is the best player on the planet. He performs at a level that many NBA players cannot compete with. I am NOT a Bryant fan, but I will give credit where credit is due.

Orlando has a very bright future, there are so many talented individuals on the payroll. Let’s just pray management doesn’t screw with the line-up (we NEED and WANT Hedo Turkoglu)!

Dwight Howard, keep your chin up! You have a bright future and will earn MANY rings! You are the man! I only hope you take this loss and promise to never feel this emptiness again! I pray this keeps you up at nights so you will come back next year bigger and stronger! You are already a beast and with time, you will be unstoppable.

I am going to pour another glass of wine and watch the trophy presentation. We’ll get it next year…I believe in Magic!