I hope that everyone out there managed to stay reasonably warm and dry this holiday weekend, despite the weather. We dodged a few raindrops and tornados here in the Tampa Bay area! I’ll be happy to head to North Carolina next week and get to some cooler temps, and possibly some snow.

Did you hear about this off the wall kidnapping in Fort Myers? The mom got into a car with a stranger to provide directions (uhh…WHY?) and the stranger kicked mom out and kept the kid. The police think the baby was taken to satisfy a debt, but the parents deny that.

It’s definitely a head scratcher, and I don’t think we’re hearing the whole truth on it at this point.

I just won $1000 from PayPerPost in their RockStartUp puzzle contest. This brings my grand total with PayPerPost to just under $5,000 since July. Is it any wonder why they’re my favorite paid blogging service? They’re right in Orlando too!

(You can get paid for blogging too - just click on the PayPerPost image in the sidebar and sign up today!)

Staying on a budget at Disney and other theme parks CAN be done. I know, because we’ve done it. When you go to Disney as often as we do, you try to save some money each time. One of the last times we went, we splurged on our hotel and stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I did get a great Florida resident rate so we didn’t pay the normal price, and we got a free room upgrade. The big money pit at Disney however isn’t your room - it’s the food. Snacks, meals, drinks - they all add up quickly at theme park prices. We typically bring some food to keep in the room, like doughnuts and cereal for breakfast each morning, soda, milk, (deluxe hotels have an in room fridge, at the value resorts you can add one for $10 a day) bread, PB&J fixins, lunch meat, mayo, and snacks. We also bring water bottles, and I carry a backpack in the park with snacks and water bottles.

My dining choice at Epcot is usually Sunshine Seasons in The Land, and it’s one of the best places for value - food wise. We can usually feed our family of 5 plus my mom for $60, which includes drinks for everyone and 2 beers for my husband. The kids meals are a steal - $4 each and the kids get a main dish (mac n cheese, chicken, or a mini sub) plus a side of fruit or veggies, and a bread and a drink. For $4! In addition to the hot stations with stir fry, chicken, fish, and soups, there are coolers filled with salads and sides.

The next day, we went to Disney/MGM Studios and the only food we bought in the park were some french fries as a snack. We went back to our hotel in the early afternoon and had a late lunch there with the things we brought from home. For dinner we went to Pizzeria Uno which is a chain, and there’s a location close to Downtown Disney. They have huge pizzas that are very filling - one pie was enough for the family.

Sunday was the day we went to Magic Kingdom - again, we left the park early and had lunch in our room, but we did spend some cash on dinner that night. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we decided to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern, which is a character meal. The kids were $13 each and the adults were $28 each. Disney says anyone over the age of 9 is an adult, so we had my oldest be a year younger for the purpose of paying half price for her. The food was fantastic - salad, pork, beef, turkey, veggies, mashed taters, stuffing…and apple cobbler with ice cream for dessert. Not to mention we got to meet tons of characters right at our table.

Monday was our last day of vacation, and we went to Animal Kingdom. We didn’t eat anything here but the snacks we brought on our own.

Food costs can quickly add up, but if you plan in advance, you can save a bit, which means more money to buy mouse ears and Disney t-shirts!

Technorati Tags: Disney, Disney vacation, Orlando, Lake Buena Vista, Pizzeria Uno, Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Epcot, budget vacation

I grew up in a house with dogs. I can’t ever remember a time when we didn’t have a dog as a pet. From Porky the basset house/German shepherd mix, to Brandy the Brittany Spaniel, to Penny the dachshund…I am a dog lover.

When my husband and I got married, I already had a little dachshund named Penny. After she left us, we decided a family dog was in order, and decided to get our lab, Bailey. She’s been a wonderful family pet, but a few years ago, I got the dachshund itch again. Those of you who have a doxie will know that once you get one…you’ll always love them. I didn’t want a puppy, so after looking around, my husband and I decided that a rescue dog would be the best fit for our family. Thanks to FLDR.org, also known as Florida Daschshund Rescue, Lola entered our lives in 2004.

I can’t say enough good things about the people at FLDR. Lola (she was then known by the name Wonder) was being fostered in the panhandle and I was able to talk with her “foster mom” at length about her needs and how she’d fit into our family of 3 kids and a big dog. FLDR also sent someone to our house to make sure we knew the special requirements of the breed and taking in a rescue dog. They transported Lola to Orlando, where she was spayed, received a dental, and had shots, and we picked her up. The fee for all of this? Only $250. It’s really an amazing organization, and if you’re considering adding a dog to your life, check out Florida Daschshund Rescue - you won’t be sorry!

Talk to someone who calls themselves a Floridian, and you’ll find out Floridian doesn’t equal a “native”, also known as someone born and raised in Florida. In fact, I’m one of the few native Floridians I know, besides my children. My husband and family are all from New Jersey. I live in a community where people are pouring in from New Jersey and New York, and you can find authentic New York pizza and Italian Ice. Chances are, if you ask a Floridian where they are from, you won’t hear “Florida” as the answer.

Where are you from? What prompted your move to Florida?

Most Floridians, regardless of if you’re a native like me, or a recent transplant, love the weather in Florida. The only time I mind our wam temperatures is at this time of year. For instance, I’m wearing shorts and a t-shirt right now, and I ran my a/c earlier this week. It’s hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it’s so darn warm out!

I’ve only had one white Christmas in my life, and it was when I was 12. We took the auto train out of Sanford to Virigina, and then drove to New Jersey to my grandmother’s house. I hoped for snow all week…and all week, the snow didn’t come. Finally, as we left the state to drive back to Virigina, the flakes started falling. My parents pulled over to a gas station so that I could get out and experience snow for the first time. Ever since then, I’ve loved the white stuff, but I also love not having to shovel it, drive in it, or scrape ice off my windshield each morning.

Maybe this heat wave isn’t so awful after all…

If you’re looking for a day trip close to Tampa that will take you back to nature, look no further than Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. The park is located in Citrus County, approximately 1 hour north of Tampa, and is easily accessible from U.S. 19 or the Suncoast/Veteran’s Expressway. You’ll enter the park through the welcome center located off the highway, and after paying your admission fee, you can catch the tram or a boat to the main entrance. For first time visitors, I recommend the boat - it takes a few minutes longer, but a slow ride down Pepper Creek is just the right thing to get you in the mood for this old Florida adventure. You’ll be able to see alligators, birds, and even turtles on your ride, and before you know it, you’ll be stepping off and entering the park.

The park is designed to be one big circle, so no matter where you start, you’ll see it all. There is a boardwalk to follow that will take you past all of the animals and birds at the park, including bobcats, bears, deer, alligators, manatees, and even a hippo! You can attend educational programs (offered several times through out the day) to learn more about Florida wildlife, alligators, and the hippo.

One of the parks best features is the ability to see manatees in their natural habitat. On the day we visited, we were a few feet away from a manatee at the river’s edge. You can also go underwater by entering The Fish Bowl, to get a unique perspective on fish and manatees swimming in the crystal clear spring water. If creepy crawlies are more your thing, visit the reptile house to see native snakes. (It also provides a good chance to show your children what poisonous snakes look like in a safe setting!) The park also hosts special events including arts and craft shows and gardening workshops. It’s a unique place to take your kids unlike most other parks - there are no thrill rides, no stands hawking t-shirts, and no people dressed up in costumes posing for pictures. Another reason this park is family friend - the entire park is a no smoking zone! For more information, visit the website for Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park or call:

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, Florida 34446
Phone: 352-628-5343
Fax: 352-628-4243

This is one park, that while a bit off the beaten path, is definitely worth the trip!

Welcome to The Florida Blog - a blog about everything the Sunshine State has to offer us. For more information on this blog, and it’s purpose, as well as how your business or website can sponsor this blog, please visit our About Page.

This policy is valid from 16 December. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Colleen (colleen_ccATyahoo.com).

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. However, the compensation received has absolutely no effect on the topics posted. I will always strive to give my honest opinion and findings, and all opinions expressed on this blog are my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org