Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery

Last Friday I was able to attend a VIP Party for the opening of the new Discovery Point at Sea World San Antonio. I’ve been so excited about this new area since I heard about it last year and could hardly wait to see it! If you follow me on Instagram & Twitter, you saw my excitement and announcement about sharing the new Discovery Point with you while I was at the Seven Seas Food & Wine Fest 2 weeks ago.
I was already highly anticipating the nights events as I had been following several of my WildSide blog friends as they attended the days events of swimming with the dolphins, beluga whales and seals! We arrived just before the gates opened for the after hours VIP Party and the excitement was building even more! As we rounded the corner we were thrown into a tropical paradise with palm trees, tiki huts and music.
SeaWorld San Antonio’s Discovery Point is a new area of the park that doubled the size of the previous dolphin habitat and provides guests with two ways to experience the bottlenose dolphins.
The Dolphin Lagoon allows guests to watch dolphins play from both above and below the surface. This new feature provides an up-close look at how dolphins play and explore their environment.
Signature Dolphin Swim – the only place to swim with dolphins in Texas! During the new dolphin swim experience, guests interact with bottlenose dolphins while learning about dolphin behavior and communication, as well as SeaWorld’s ongoing local and worldwide dolphin research and rescue efforts. After a brief classroom presentation, guests change into SeaWorld-provided wetsuits and wade into Dolphin Lagoon to meet the animals for a swim with SeaWorld’s expert trainers. Prices range from $125 to $155 per person depending on the day you book.
Currently, they have 6 male dolphins in the exhibit who seemed to be just as excited about it as the guest were. We sat there watching as the trainers interacted with them and answered guests questions. Then we headed below for the underwater viewing.
This is my favorite area, I could sit and watch them swim all day. After we had our fill of the underwater viewing we grabbed a few drinks and some snacks and listened to the live band that was conveniently positioned next to the exhibit we were headed to.
Towards the back of Discovery Point, you’ll find Explorer’s Reef which is home to several species of sharks, many of which are endangered, along with exotic fish and a living coral reef. Just like the underwater viewing I love the aquariums. It’s so relaxing watching them swim around and exciting to see sea creatures you normally wouldn’t see just visiting the beach.
As we were ready to head out from the festivities and start our trek home, I saw the king snake that i had “petted” two weeks before, and knowing that my SIL was terrified of snakes…I didn’t tell her it was there and waited till she just about ran into it. Then dared her to touch it…
I’m really excited about this new exhibit and can’t wait to take the boys to see it, and better yet, swim with the dolphins!! It’s always been on my bucket list, and now I don’t even have to leave Texas to do it.
As a member of the media, I was invited to attend the VIP Party at Sea World in hopes that I would share with my readers. I recieved no compensation for this post.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Lucky You! If you have been waiting for the perfect time to become a Julep Maven, now is the time! The St. Patrick’s Day Welcome Box is FREE for new subscribers and it includes three “pinch proof” nail colors, a fan favorite beauty product and even a fun sheet of nail decals bringing the value of the box to $58 – just pay $2.99 shipping.
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Become a Maven by March 9th to get this welcome box before St. Patrick’s Day! Join Maven and get the St. Patrick’s Day Welcome Box FREE ($58 value) – just pay $2.99 shipping with code PINCHME.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to 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.”

Summer time, the time for lots of fun in the sun. We usually slather on the sunscreen, but do you wear sun glasses..what about your kids? When it comes to protecting your eyes, do you know all the facts? If your like most chances are the answer is NO! Below you will find some facts, what to look for when buying sunglasses, advice on what to do to protect your child’s eyes & 5 Hot Sunglasses for you and your child!
UV radiation endangers an unprotected eye in ways that can lead to vision impairment. Just small amounts of intense UV exposure can cause short-term problems, ranging from irritating to overtly painful. The following symptoms may indicate over-exposure to UV.
Bloodshot Eyes
Swollen Eyes
Hyper-Sensitivity To Light
Infants & Children get 3X the annual adult dose of UV radiation and their eyes are more vulnerable. About 25% of an individuals lifetime exposure to UV radiation happens before the age of 18! If you notice any of the following your child should be taken in for evaluation by their Dr.:
Red Eyes – Skin around the eyes is red and appears to be sunburned
Extreme Sensitivity to light – constantly tearing
Disrupted Sleep – Feeling that eyes are burning, itching, or scratchy
Severe eye pain & spasims of the eye or eye lid
Why is UV eye protection SO important? Over time, the cumulative effects of sunlight can lead to eye diseases and conditions later in life. While some damage can be reversed through surgery, other conditions, like cataracts and macular degeneration, may result in permanent vision loss. It is never too early or too soon to protect your children’s eyes from UV exposure. Now that you know what to look for, what can you do to help your little one and yourself?
Limit outdoor time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV radiation is strongest. Sometimes this isn’t an option and thats when a good pair of UVA/UBV Sunglasses come into play!
Have your child wear their UVA/UVB Sunglasses anytime they are outside, sunny or cloudy, the UV rays still come through on cloudy days!
Now you’re probably wondering what to look for when buying sunglasses, you don’t want to waste your money on something that isn’t going to help, right?!
Look for the UVA/UVB Sticker
Shop a credible source, chances are those vendors in the middle of the mall or the sidewalk don’t have true UV protection.
Make sure they are comfortable…you wont wear something that isn’t comfortable, neither will your child!
I LOVE my sunglasses, I love different styles and tints. One of my favorites is the Vestry Sunglasses from Nicole Miller, which I’m sure you’ve seen me sporting in many of my instagram photos! This year I have discovered SUM Company…the glasses are super cool and allow me to have the eye protection I need and the style I crave! I can change the look from solid black to a cool tortoise shell in just a few seconds. 5 Sunglasses You’ll Love:
Okay, you found some great sun glasses your child will love..now, how do I get them to wear them?
Routine, Routine, Routine! Every time you head outdoors put them on, make sure they see you put yours on. Once they feel the difference from direct sun to the sunglasses they will more than likely catch on and leave them on. Don’t be fooled by price! Expensive does not mean better! Plastic sunglasses are inexpensive and come in many colors and styles. Also look for Polycarbonate lenses if your child is rough or into sports they are more able to withstand rough play. Look through the sunglasses before you buy them..see if they distort what your child is looking at, I know I wouldn’t want to walk around in a distorted world! We used Baby BanZ & KidZ BanZ when little man was smaller, because they have a comfortable strap to hold them on his face. Now that he is a little older he loves his stylin sporty Foster Grants. I love the wrap around style so I know it protects his eyes from all angles.
5 Sunglasses Your Child Will Love:
Frequent sunglass use comes with practice. Reinforcing healthy behaviors by making your kids routinely wear sunglasses will help to get them in the habit of protecting their eyes. Set an example by always remembering to wear your own shades.
How often do you or your children wear sunglasses?

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Fairy Tales have always been popular at Disney, and at my house. From Alice In Wonderland, to Sleeping Beauty, to Cinderella…Disney has taken us on many heartfelt and heroic adventures. In recent years, they have been taking to the live-action realm with a twist of some of the most beloved fairy tales, like Maleficent, Into The Woods, Alice In Wonderland, and the most recent being Cinderella.
Cinderella, one of my favorite fairy tales, has been reimagined into a Live Action, non-musical retelling of the 1950 Disney animated film. The story is expanded somewhat from the cartoon’s 74 minutes to a runtime closer to two hours.
The Live Action Cinderella DVD will be released today, and if you haven’t seen it, here is a bit about the movie and why you will want to add it to your collection of Disney Fairy Tales.
The movie opens with Ella as a baby born to a loving mother and father. Mom dies when Ella is just a young girl but before she passes, reminds Ella to Have Courage And Be Kind. Ella grows into a beautiful, selfless young woman, who doesn’t hesitate to approve her patient father’s desire to remarry.
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Not long after taking his second wife, the Lady Tremaine, and Tremaine’s two daughters, Drizella and Anastasia in, Ella’s father goes off on a business adventure, takes ill and dies. It doesn’t take long for them to rename Ella, Cinderella. The name reflects her dirty appearance, the result of her being gradually demoted from the maiden of the house to an orphaned servant girl who sleeps in the attic she shares with mice.
Frustrated by her circumstances, Ella seizes a horse for a ride, where she encounters “Kit”, an “apprentice” we recognize as Prince Charming. Their brief meeting inspires Cinderella to hope for a reunion at a royal ball, but Tremaine forbids Cinderella to attend, even ripping the old dress which was Ellas birth mothers. Cinderella soon discovers that, as her mother told her, fairy godmothers are real. Hers’ magically transforms her and is driven to the ball in a pumpkin turned coach by transformed mice, lizards and a goose….
I will leave the rest of the story to the DVD to tell. The reason the story is retold so frequently is that people love it. I mean, who doesn’t love a rags-to-riches, love at first meeting, romantic fairy tale!? I’m so glad that they kept this the classic fairy tale that we love, I do love the new live-action twists, but I think keeping this one classic was the way to go. Classics are always in!
BONUS MATERIAL: Digital HD/SD*, Blu-ray Combo Pack & Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)
A Fairy Tale Comes to Life Filmmakers and cast reflect on Cinderella’s enduring power, and the joys and challenges of bringing this iconic tale to life.
Costume Test Fun See the work of Academy Award-winning® Costume Designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, 2004) and share some lighthearted moments with the cast.
Staging The Ball – You’re invited behind the scenes for the making of the Palace Ball sequence, including its spectacular set, stunning costumes and more. It’s a lavish and massive undertaking…and a magical day on set.
Ella’s Furry Friends – Discover how the movie’s animal stars honed their memorable performances.
Alternate Opening: Ella’s Childhood – View moments from Ella’s idyllic childhood that do not appear in the movie. With an introduction by Director Kenneth Branagh.
Frozen Fever It’s Anna’s birthday, and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever – but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk.
*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer
DMA Exclusive:
Deleted Scenes With introduction by Kenneth Branagh o Serving (0:56) o The Mourning (4:24) o Getting to Know You (2:00) o The Search for Cinderella (1:14)
o Dear Kit (2:57)
DVD:
Ella’s Furry Friends
Frozen Fever
I’m sure by now you’ve seen the beautiful stagecoach charm I received for being an Ambassador of Kindness, well now you can buy your very own. The charm is only $8.99 + $2.95 shipping when you buy Cinderella (LA) on BD, DVD or Digital HD on Disney Movies Anywhere. This offer is valid from 9/15/15 – 12/22/15.
Also, don’t forget about Cinderella A Million Words of Kindness Campaign. You can be and Ambassador of Kindness too!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the 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.”