Orlando Home and Garden Show - April 4 - 6

With springtime’s arrival to Florida, there’s no better time for homeowners to get started on projects to maintain their number one investment. Luckily, inspiration is just around the corner: the 2014 Central Florida Home & Garden Show, returning April 4-6 to Hall North B in the Orange County Convention Center’s North Concourse facing Universal Blvd. The home improvement extravaganza is the premier place to find innovative products, new ideas, practical advice and great deals in remodeling, home improvement and gardening with hundreds of experts all under one roof. From windows and flooring to cabinets and landscaping, consumers can shop, compare and save on a wide variety of products and services to renew, refresh and restore their homes.

Show highlights include appearances by celebrity landscaper and green expert Ahmed Hassan of DIY Network’s Yard Crashers; demonstrations by some of the area’s favorite chefs on the Edible Orlando Cooking Stage; daily how-to presentations by Chris Tice, the DIY Guy; a Pet Pavilion with cash and carry items; designer rooms with instant ideas to refresh and restyle; a food truck rally on Sunday; and hundreds of DIY, landscaping and home improvement experts offering a range of new products and services, including exhibitors new to the market or making their Central Florida Home + Garden Show debut.

Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m, and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Tickets are available at the door, and are $10 for adults 13+, $5 for seniors (60+, at the box office only), $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages five and under. 

Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $3 discount off full-price $10 admission at CentralFloridaHomeAndGardenShow.com.  Convenient on-site parking is available in the adjacent lot and is $9 per car per day.

 

Visit CentralFloridaHomeAndGardenShow.com for a complete listing of presentations and times. Connect on Facebook, Twitter (@FloridaHomeShow), Pinterest (pinterest.com/homeshows) for up-to-the-minute show details, discounts and fabulous home improvement tips. Visit the show’s blog at HomeAndGardenBlog.com

Edible Orlando Returns to Central Florida Home & Garden Show - April 4th - 6th

The popular Edible Orlando Cooking Stage is back and bursting with even more fun and flavor!  Top local chefs and media personalities will be showing off their culinary skills, dishing about the latest food trends and demonstrating the best of the season all weekend long at the Central Florida Home & Garden Show. Enjoy mouth-watering samples and meet the folks behind Edible Orlando magazine, dedicated to celebrating Central Florida’s food culture.  

Location:                Orange County Convention Center – North Concourse Hall North B facing Universal Blvd. The OCCC is located at 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819.

 

Edible Orlando Cooking Stage Schedule:

 

Friday, April 4

10:30 a.m. - Chef Larry Eells, Hyatt Regency Orlando

12:30 p.m. - Heather McPherson, Orlando Sentinel, Katie Farmand & Pam Brandon, Edible Orlando

1:30 p.m. - Lois Dorotiak, Whole Foods Market

Saturday, April 5

10:30 a.m. - Andres Montoya, The Wine Barn

11:30 a.m. - Chef Camilo Velasco, Barnie's Coffee Kitchen

12:30 p.m. - Heather McPherson, Orlando Sentinel, Katie Farmand & Pam Brandon, Edible Orlando

1:30 p.m. - Gloria B, KQ 103FM

2:30 p.m. - Chef Jose Gonzalez, Cuba Libre Restaurant

Sunday, April 6

11:30 a.m. - Feeding Children Everywhere

12:30 p.m. - Chef Jerry Helminski, 'Kesh

1:30 p.m. - Chef Laurent Hollaender, Grand Bohemian Hotel

 3:30 p.m. - Shantell Williams, Shantell's Café

 
Schedule subject to changes; please visit the Edible Orlando Cooking Stage for up-to-the-minute details.

Gorton's New Artisan Fillets Review & Giveaway Opportunty #RealSolutions

Gorton’s seafood has come out with a delicious new product called Artisan fillets.  They are made from real wild Alaskan Pollock with no fillers, MSG, artificial colors or flavors.  Each box contains 5 fillets which contain only 150 to 170 calories each depending on variety.  This is a perfect product for those counting calories !

The 4 Gorton's Artisan varieties includes:

• Lemon & Cracked Peppercorn
• Southwest Tortilla
• Roasted Garlic & Italian Herb
• Southern Style

I was sent some coupons to try these new products and found them at my local Publix (sadly, my Winn Dixie did not carry them yet).  I have heard that Walmart sells them so if you don't have a Publix, you may want to check there.

 

The one pictured below is the Roasted Garlic & Italian Herb which was really good.  My kids loved it and wanted seconds.  I definitely like these varieties more than the plain breaded fillets you usually find when buying frozen fish fillets.

To help you save some cash, there is a coupon to download at Gortons.com.  There are also recipes and information on all of their products.

 

Thru April 2, you can enter the Real Solutions Sweepstakes daily for your chance to win one (1) VIP product coupon OR one (1) $100 Visa® Gift Card and one (1) Gorton’s branded cutting board OR  $2,500.00 cash prize.

Make sure you follow Gorton’s Seafood on  Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to keep up with all the latest products and promotions.

Along with this review, I was given the opportunity to giveaway a prize pack that includes two (2) full-value product coupons plus one (1) Gorton’s branded cutting board.

To enter, leave a comment stating which of the Artisan flavors you think you would like best.

I will give you an additional entry if you "Like" OrlandoDailyDeals on Facebook (leave a comment after you "like" the page).

I will end this giveaway on 3/26 at 5 pm EST

Disclosure: I was given the products featured in this post to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.

New Details about Universal Studios The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

 

Today, Universal Orlando revealed never-before-released details about the Hogwarts Express experience that will debut as part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – the all-new, magnificently themed land opening this summer and wanted to share with you right away!  Please see attached for the press release with accompanying photo.

 

The train will connect the new land in Universal Studios Florida with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure – allowing guests with park-to-park admission to enjoy a real journey aboard the iconic locomotive. Park-to-park admission is required to experience the Hogwarts Express journey.  Please know that never before has this been done – creating an actual train ride experience to connect two spectacularly themed environments. Everything about the train is authentic – from the paint and the materials used to build it….all the way down to the whistle. The Hogwarts Express experience combines powerful storytelling, live special effects, lifelike animation and state-of-the-art technology to take riders on the journey of a lifetime. 

 

As part of the Hogwarts Express, guests will enjoy two completely different experiences depending on whether they’re traveling to Hogsmeade or London.   Once seated in the cabin, guests will be able to look out their windows as an incredibly authentic and magical adventure unfolds before them.  They’ll see Hagrid come alongside the train on his flying motorbike, Buckbeak the Hippogriff swoop gracefully over Black Lake, the Weasley twins on brooms and up to their usual antics, the Knight Bus swerving through London traffic – and other special moments and surprises.

SEAWORLD ORLANDO’S JUST FOR KIDS FESTIVAL STARTS MARCH 22, 2014

Come experience SeaWorld’s 50^th Celebration through the eyes of a child.  Sing, dance and play the day away Saturdays at SeaWorld Orlando’s “Just for Kids” Festival starting March 22. 

This kid-centric festival brings families together to enjoy fun rides, adorable animals and an all-new party zone. “Just for Kids” is included with park admission and takes place Saturdays from March 22 – April 12.

During “Just for Kids”, SeaWorld’s year-long 50^th Celebration will be in full swing. Park pathways will come to life with oceans of spontaneous entertainment. Guests will enjoy a Sea of Surprises featuring new interactive experiences and shows, even more up-close animal encounters and the SeaWorld “Surprise Squad” treating park guests with prizes and special experiences every day.

 

Starting at 11 am, families can experience warm-hearted whimsical fun and make lasting memories as they dance along to jammin’ DJ’s at the NEW Rockin’ Rockhopper Party in Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin®, get up close with adorable animal friends at the all-new “SEA Garden,” and meet some of their children’s favorite television stars. With SeaWorld’s awesome shows and attractions as part of the mix, “Just for Kids” is a full-day’s excitement that’s sure to inspire the child in everyone!   

     

Ocean Adventures Kids Program - Kids can go on an educational, card collecting program, also included with admission, starting at 11 am. Children will look for the Sea Star icons inside the park, where they’ll discover fun, educational activities. At each location they will collect a stamp and a limited edition Explorer’s card.  Once they visit all four locations, they’ll receive a coupon to redeem at select gift shops for a special SeaWorld prize.  Limit one prize per participating child.

 

Share the wonder of close-up encounters with amazing animal friends and learn how we care for our natural world at our all-new SEA Garden.

 

Then end the night with Shamu & Crew at the Shamu Dance Party at the Village Square located at the front of the park. The party begins one hour prior to park closing with a stilt walker emcee who fills the square with music that the whole family can dance to, including popular line dancing songs and party favorites. The Shamu Dance Party continues until 30 minutes after park closing. Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com for complete details.

 

The best way to experience all of the fun, music and treats at “Just for Kids” and SeaWorld’s 50^th Celebration is with an Annual Pass, starting at just $13 per month for Florida Residents.  Pass Members can enjoy all four Saturdays of “Just for Kids” fun and all of the amazing special events throughout the year, plus the unforgettable animal encounters, world-class thrill rides and family fun found only at SeaWorld.

 

Follow Sea World on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest details about SeaWorld Orlando’s “Just for Kids” Festival. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #JustForKids.