Darien Lake is one of the places we are going as a family this summer. Their wide range of entertainment has made it “destination fun” since 1964. That is longer than I have been alive! Darien Lake is located just 45 minutes from Niagara Falls between Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y.
Today the park boasts more than 50 rides, including six world-class roller coasters, dozens of family friendly rides, the regions largest water park complete with a wave pool and 20,000-seat performing arts center. Everything is operated by Live Nation; and world-class in-park entertainment.
The Viper is celebrating its 35th year at Darien Lake. Okay, I am older than the Viper, but not anywhere near as old as Darien Lake.
Click HERE to schedule your visit today! Have you ever been to Darien Lake? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments.
This is a sponsored post, as always my words and views are 100% my own.
Check out this great clip featuring all SIX Jimmy Fallons:
This morning Staten Island Chuck, in a new Plexiglas enclosure made his prediction. Chuck said we would have an early spring. I want to take the word of Chuck, really I do, but I saw some shadows under him on the video replay. The prediction of early spring is a bit ironic on the day of the first major blizzard we have seen this year.
It is snowing like crazy outside right now, so Chuck’s prediction was very welcome, not sure how realistic though. However, I decided to embrace Chuck’s prediction. That was until Punxsutawney Phil had to see his shadow and predict 6 more weeks of winter. I should share that old Phil has quite a track record of calling for more winter, he has predicted more winter 102 times and early spring a measly 17 times. Chuck has a track record of being right for the last 5 years.
So while I want desperately to believe Chuck, that negative Nelly Phil is probably right. On a side note the new enclosure for Chuck was thought to be a safer alternative given what happened last year when Mayor de Blasio dropped Charlotte (the unlucky Chuck stand in), several feet. Poor Charlotte died a week later of internal injuries, however the Staten Island Zoo has not officially declared that it was a result of the fall. Come on now, we all know that Mayor de Blasio has Charlotte’s blood all over his hands. Speaking of hands, back in 2009 Chuck bit then Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the hand.
Not to throw any more puns in but back to the question at hand. Who do I believe, fellow New Yorker Chuck or my friend in Pennsylvania Phil? Phil or Chuck, Chuck or Phil? I think I will go with Phil and hope to be pleasantly surprised to learn that Chuck was right. I just can’t get those shadows I saw under Chuck out of my mind.
What do you think? Let me know who you think is right.
The leaves are changing, the pumpkins are ready for picking, the apples are crisp and it’s a wonderful time to explore New York State. Fall is so beautiful in New York State, sometimes living here, we take for granted the beautiful change of seasons and the colorful beauty of fall. If you are living in New York State or visiting the area, I urge you to experience the beauty of Autumn with a trip to the Wright Family Farm in Warwick, New York
Try to find your way out of the Corn Maze, go on a hay ride, pick your own pumpkins, compete in the duck races, visit the animals in the barnyard, ride the pedal karts and have a picnic. Right now you can save 33% off admission to the corn maze and barnyard with a special US Family Guide discount coupon that you can get by clicking HERE. You can follow them on Facebook too to keep up with the newest happenings.
The Wright Family Farm is located in scenic Warwick, New York, just an hour north of New York City. This family-run farm stand offers a variety of seasonal family fun! During the fall, we offer pick-your-own pumpkins, free hay rides, and a corn maze. The farm stand features seasonal produce, fresh-baked breads, and cookies, as well as hot dogs and snacks.
The children are subject to multiple tests and procedures with the mother being very attentive, even gaining the appreciation of the nursing staff for her dedication and help in caring for her child. This is the very reason it’s not suspected that this caring, devoted and self-sacrificing mother could be causing her child to be sick. Staying close by during hospitalizations gives the mother the ability to induce further symptoms and some go so far as to nearly suffocate their child that set off monitors signaling the child was not breathing.
As the medical team rushes in, the mother will react like any distraught mother wanting to know why her child stopped breathing and if they’re okay. The behavior of the mother can make it hard for staff to recognize that she is intentionally harming her child out of a desire for attention for herself and sympathy for what she is going through. In cases where it’s recognized that the mother may be suffering from Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy the child needs to be removed from the mother’s care. The results of separating the child and mother often bring about a return to health for the child.
Since the parent is seeking attention, and it’s that sympathy and admiration she receives that has her harming her child, should we be alarmed that social media could be a constant source of gasoline for an already raging fire? Think about it, blogs, tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram and Pinterest are social networks that can help sick mothers gain the accolades, adoration and sympathy from people all over the world. Now she has a fan base that is devoted to her and her sick child and waiting for every update.
Yesterday, in my home state of New York, one mother, a blogger, was charged with fatally poisoning her son Garnett. Lacey Spears appeared to be a devoted mother to her son Garnett and chronicled about the five-year old’s many hospitalizations and his constant battle with illness. She even captured the last moments of her son’s life, as he lay gravely ill in the hospital in photos she then posted to her Facebook page. She would talk about her son’s incredible courage and referred to him as “Garnett the Great” on her blog. The little boy died in January from what doctors said was acute sodium poisoning.
People from all over followed her updates, posts and tweets and a huge outpouring of support, sympathy and prayers were offered to this mother and her son. Now formally charged, she is believed to have poisoned her son with sodium through a feeding tube in his abdomen. As Garnett lay dying in the hospital, a Chestnut Ridge neighbor said Spears called and told her to dispose of a bag Spears used to feed the boy through a tube. Police later recovered the bag which had extremely high levels of sodium.His killing, police said, was the final act of a deranged mother who, fueled by attention on social media, medically tortured her child for years.
Lacey Spears pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and manslaughter charges in the poisoning death of her five-year-old son, Garnett. She was ordered held without bail at Westchester County jail and is due back in court July 2. The only words the 26-year-old Alabama native uttered in state Supreme Court in White Plains were “Yes, sir,” when Justice Barry Warhit asked if she was Lacey Spears.
It seems that Lacey lived a life of lies and it’s all coming out now. Besides sharing her son’s nearly lifelong medical battles on social media she wrote about the loss of her soul mate, Garnett’s father who she said was a police officer killed in a car crash. It’s now apparent this was a lie along with so many others that seem to keep surfacing.
This homicide case may be one of the first involving Munchausen by proxy in the era of social media. I keep reading that last sentence, now that this has all come out, so many people are coming forward saying things about the mother and yet no one was able to prevent Garnett’s death. This may be the first homicide case involving Munchausen by proxy that has come this far, but do you truly think it’s the only one?
Do you think it’s possible that other mothers with this syndrome are right now updating statuses about their sick child, fueled by the comments and likes that are peppering their pages. Are any of us guilty of supporting a mother who is doing the unthinkable? Scary thought for sure and one that will cause us all to look just a little deeper into the lives we follow through social media.
And in closing, I turn my thoughts to a beautiful blond-haired boy that walked the beach on Honeymoon Island where I vacationed with my children and who lived in my state. This beautiful little boy should be playing with trucks, chasing butterflies and looking forward to a full and happy life. Instead his life on Earth is over and those of us that believe in God will pray that he is in the arms of Jesus and will forever be loved and cherished. God Bless you Garnett and may you rest in peace.
The syrup comes in glass bottles and is made primarily from sugar maple sap, which is preferred for maple syrup production because it has an average sugar content of two percent. Sap from other maple species is usually lower in sugar content, and about twice as much is needed to produce the same amount of finished syrup.
We tried this syrup and my husband and I immediately agreed it had to be the best maple syrup we had ever tasted. We look forward to weekend breakfasts even more since we have this syrup to compliment our waffles, pancakes or french toast.
The Mohawk Valley Trading Company offers the highest quality unprocessed natural products we can produce namely; Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar, Honey, Raw Honey, Beeswax, Beeswax Candles, Handmade Soap and Natural Skin Care Products. Their warehouse is located in Utica, NY. They only sell their products online. If you would like to order or need more information, you can email them at info@tenonanatche.com.
The Mohawk Valley Trading Company is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own 16 oz. bottle of Pure, Grade A, Dark, Robust Maple Syrup! Thank you to Mohawk Valley Trading Company for the review syrup and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Stay tuned for reviews and giveaways of more of their great products in the very near future!
16 oz. Glass Bottle of Mohawk Valley Trading Company. Grade A, Dark, Robust Maple Syrup Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
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Babo Botanicals offers a full range of natural and safe skin, hair and suncare products for newborns, babies, kids and the entire family! Babo products are made on a certified organic farm in upstate New York and are ultra-rich in vitamins A, C and D delivering maximum nutrients, protection and moisture to your child’s hair and skin. Babo’s mission is to provide the perfect balance between optimum results, natural ingredients and family fun.
Right now you can get 50% off all Babo Botanical’s Products with the Promo Code HOLIDAYBABO. Offer available from Dec 11th to Dec 18th. Coupon does not apply to VIP Gift Basket.
My little ones are picky eaters. It sometimes seems like if I let them, they would eat the same things over and over. They are reluctant to try new things for the most part, but they are getting better. I recently made some Jolie Cheese Ravioli for them. We’re Italian and they love their pasta! Cheese ravioli were always a favorite of mine as a child and my kids are no different.
The ravioli cooked in about 9 minutes and I served them with tomato sauce and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. I never saw my 6-year-old eat so fast and eat everything on his plate! My four-year old was not far behind. Mom had a taste too and they were delicious and tasted as good as any gourmet cheese ravioli that I’ve ever had. I was happy to see that the ravioli stayed perfectly sealed during the cooking process so the cheese stayed tucked inside. The shapes were fun for the kids and would be great to serve at birthday parties or kids play dates.
They have other great flavors like Cheese & Broccoli, Mac & Cheezy and Pizza-Rolis. The 100% natural ravioli is an excellent source of protein and calcium and there are no trans fats, preservatives, artificial colors or additives. The teddy bear, car, dinosaur, heart, rocket ship and star shapes are fun for kids and would be great to serve at birthday parties, holiday parties or kid’s play dates. Try some today with your kids, I am certain they will love them as much as you will!!! Click HERE for a money-saving coupon for your retail store or purchase Jolie Ravioli in their online store along with their other pasta products HERE! To see if there is a store that carries New York Ravioli & Pasta Company Products click HERE for a listing.
New York Ravioli & Pasta Company is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! One lucky blog reader will win 4 bags of Jolie Ravioli! Thank you to the New York Ravioli & Pasta Company for the review Jolie Ravioli assortment and for sponsoring this delicious giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
New York Ravioli & Pasta Company, Jolie Ravioli Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
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Before even the official start of Autumn we have frost warnings, are using the heat and building roaring fires in our fireplaces. Sure there are some days when we have a taste of true Autumn but never a season of it. We seem to move from Summer right to Winter with a short stop at Autumn beginning late August. My husband laughed when I told him that he needed to finish the new porch railings a few weeks ago because we would never get to paint and stain if he didn’t because soon the snow would fly. Let’s just say he’s not laughing now.
Saturday was so cold and windy we cancelled a family photo shoot due to the conditions. Fall to me is one of the most depressing times of year, not true Fall but our Fall. Everything dying, the thought of a Winter that lasts to late May (I kid you not it snowed mid May here last year), is not uplifting for me. I love Spring (again if we had one) and Summer which is entirely too short since it ends mid August. So far today looks fairly okay outside, so I will enjoy one of the last days of true Autumn even though it’s technically still Summer and better fit that pumpkin latte in quick before the chance passes me by. That’s what you have to do when you live in the state of 2 seasons, Winter and Summer.
Enjoy some photos of Fall in upstate New York that I took in July (I jest a little). It is beautiful when we get one or two true days of Autumn.