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A new playground for generations of kids, now open in East Point, GA

This post is brought to you by Let’s Play, an initiative by Dr Pepper Snapple Group that provides kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority by building and improving playgrounds and donating sports equipment to groups in need. I’m a Let’s Play Ambassador and was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

It’s a nice playground and kids that play on it might never know that it was built in 6 hours. The playground at the John D. Milner Athletic Complex in East Point, GA is now open to entertain kids as they run, jump, play, socialize and get their sillies out. Parents know that the last phrase is important for kids because it takes a combination of physical exercise and mental stimulation to make play as great as it can be.

Continue reading A new playground for generations of kids, now open in East Point, GA

Best Buy Free In-Home Consultation, expert tech-ing where it’s needed

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card. What color should you paint the kitchen or how should you design that room? If only there was an expert source that could tell you all of possibilities, as well as, the pros and cons about doing something a certain way. The Best Buy Free In-Home Consultation is just that, an expert in all manner of technology and trends comes out to your house and lets you know the options that exist for your house.

Currently the Best Buy In-Home Consultation is available in Atlanta, Austin, Orlando and San Antonio. Our consultant, Stas visited our home with a blank slate. While filling out the form I let him know that we’re open to doing most of the upgrades that we checked out inside our local Best Buy. Our kitchen needs new appliances, I want our tech to operate as well as it should and I’m curious about some of the creature comforts.

Continue reading Best Buy Free In-Home Consultation, expert tech-ing where it’s needed

From empty to a playground in 6 hours, Let’s Play and KaBOOM! Build again

This post is brought to you by Let’s Play, an initiative by Dr Pepper Snapple Group that provides kids and families with the tools, places and inspiration to make active play a daily priority by building and improving playgrounds and donating sports equipment to groups in need. I’m a Let’s Play Ambassador and was compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Playgrounds complete a neighborhood; they allow kids to socialize, learn and simply play. Families are the backbone to a neighborhood, because their bonds keep children and families there for generations. In East Point, a community in the metro Atlanta area, a brand new playground is there for generations of kids to play with at the John D. Milner Athletic Complex courtesy of Let’s Play.

This is a complex that was just down the street from where I used to live. The old playground did anything but attract play. Its colors were dated and the play aspects that it had weren’t as interactive as today’s kids require.

Call it the influence of Ninja Warrior or the increased athleticism of today’s children, but they need more than four-chain steps, monkey bars and a platform.

Continue reading From empty to a playground in 6 hours, Let’s Play and KaBOOM! Build again

Helping at Hope House with Ford Volunteer

With both kids in school I’ve got a little more time to volunteer. We’re doing some work with their school in the library and help the teacher out when they have specific requests. This week we’re also joining some folks from Ford Volunteer to do some light construction at Hope House in Atlanta. Hope House is a place in Atlanta that offers temporary housing for people that are having substance or mental health issues.

‘Light construction’ is key toward my volunteer time. I’ll be putting up some shelves, tightening doors or other things and some tree trimming. A tree with its dead branches removed is a happy tree indeed.

Ford Volunteer is taking part in lots of projects as part of their Global Caring Month this September. I look forward to meeting some new handy people as we help out at Hope House in Atlanta. If their cause is one that you want to assist you can read more about them or donate online. You can also follow our twitter stream on Friday, September 16 to check out some of the photos from our construction.

Win tickets to #JapanFest at Infinite Energy Center, September 17 &18

JapanFest has become one of our annual go-to events for the family. It wasn’t always that way. I’m skeptical of anything that has ‘fest’ or ‘apalooza’ at the end of it, as I channel my inner Heinz Doofenshmirtz and create a JapanCulture-inator. JapanFest is great fun for the entire family on so many levels and it happens at Infinite Energy Center September 17 and 18.

This is a festival designed to celebrate Japanese culture. What is great about JapanFest, and quite surprising from our perspective was how accurate it is as presenting it. I was also surprised at how much fun my wife and children had. It was kind of a given that I would love it, having lived in Fukuoka, Japan for two years. The curve ball was how much fun the kids had, interacting with some cosplay, watching the presentations or looking at the various things for sale.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

At JapanFest 2016, for the first time ever they will have a Kabuki exhibition. Anime and voice over legend Kyle Hebert will also be present for questions and autographs. Hebert’s vocal work in Naruto, DragonBall-Z, Pokemon and others is well known by American audiences.

Do you like Samurai or sumo? They’ll be represented at JapanFest too. We’re most excited about a presentation called Shimasen Rock. This instrument is a three stringed wonder that makes the most magical sound. A close second is watching people play the Koto, which is the large ‘harp’, that is lying down. There is also a very large Anime area with product that you’ll only see at conferences or trade shows like this.

JapanFest has the best food court for Japanese food you will ever find. Ever. Walking through the food court is as close to eating at a yataii that you’ll come to in the U.S. We ate okonomiyaki, a dish that’s rarely served at most Japanese restaurants, and this fast version was as good as we’ve eaten.

They’ve got vendors from lots of Japanese companies, tractors (hello Kuboto!), a stage where they’ll introduce festivals or traditions and lots more. If Japan is Greek to you you’ll be OK at JapanFest. It’s fun, accessible to everyone and a real hoot for the entire family.

Dragon Con cosplay photos, part 2

Here’s our second general block of Dragon Con photos. You won’t see any Star Wars cosplay because there was so much that it’ll be in its own post. Yes, there was that much. These Dragon Con photos were taken during the parade, walking around the hotels, photo shoots or catching them on their downtime. The costumes from Netherworld stand out, they’re frightful and really play to the crowds.

A photo review of Dragon Con, part 1

Dragon Con happens in Atlanta every Labor Day Weekend. It is a ‘con’ in every fan based sense of the word and then some. After speaking with reporters who cover Cons like this across the country I learned that Dragon Con has the biggest and best reputation for its cosplay. Cosplay is a shortened and combined word for ‘costume’ and ‘play’. There is an example of every costume based level on display at Dragon Con, from the low tech folks who simply cut up a cardboard box to those that created movie caliber makeup, costume and performance to sell the look.

Here are some of our favorite photos that capture the spirit of Dragon Con, the families, attendees and fun to be had. Some of these photos were taken during the Dragon Con Parade while others were taken around the hotels.

Free entry August 20 & 21 to Six Flags Over Georgia for military

On August 20 and 21 Six Flags Over Georgia will honor the men and women that protect our freedom with the annual Military Appreciation Weekend. Are you an active duty military member with a valid ID? If so then you’ll receive free admission for yourself and up to 3 other family members. Are you a retired military member or veteran? If so you’ll get a 50% discount off admission to the park. Active military members can also purchase additional tickets at 50% off. *To take advantage of this all admission tickets must be purchased at the park.*

Six flags over Georgia, military appreciation weekend, free entry, active military, veteran, retired military — Six Flags Atlanta
Photo by: Craig T. Mathew/Mathew Imaging

It’s all part of the Military Appreciation Weekend at Six Flags Over Georgia on August 20 and 21. Participants can also take advantage of the Military Appreciation Weekend Meal, to save more cash and eat like a king.