Preparing for Back to School: How Do You Relax?

Karyn Locke
relaxing with Tradewinds tea

Disclosure: I’m part of the Mom It Forward Influencer Network and was asked to write about #MomentsToSavor and Tradewinds Tea. Yes, I’ve been compensated for this post but all opinions are my own! #AD Whew, I can’t even believe that it’s back-to-school time. And, while I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a burden, I know one thing: this time of year is CRAZY for my family! Before I know it, autumn will be happily sneaking up on me (bring on Halloween!), and I’ll be spying autumn decorations on the…

The 5 Best Pools at Walt Disney World

Karyn Locke
Coronado Springs Resort pool

I wouldn’t slight anyone a bit if he headed to Walt Disney World without dipping his feet in a pool. We’ve done it several times. But, sometimes the Disney World pools are so inviting that you have to throw on your swimsuit and jump in! Here’s our winners for the five best pools at Walt Disney World and why you need to check them out! We love all of the main pools at Disney World resorts, don’t get my family wrong. Each offers hourly activities as well as theming that…

8 Reasons to Consider a Smaller Royal Seas Cruise First

Karyn Locke
Cruising the ocean at sunset.

Considering a family cruise but not sure whether to take a long one or go with a shorter, less-expensive cruise? Here’s our top eight reasons why you consider taking a smaller Royal Seas Cruise first. When it comes to family cruises, there’s plenty of options to weigh including location and expense. Then there’s logistics, meals – you name it! But, what about a shorter cruise versus a longer one? Which should be your first? 1. Time at Sea Taking a cruise for the first time can be an adventure, that’s…

Back to School with South Hills Village Mall: What’s Hot for 2017

Karyn Locke
South Hills Village Disney Store

I love mall shopping. And, while that could be an entirely different story, one of the reasons is that I get to spend time with my teen daughter. The Kid and I got down to back-to-school-shopping business on a recent visit to South Hills Village Mall in Pittsburgh, PA. We hunted for bargains and necessary items, but what we ended up doing the most was having fun! Here’s the scoop on what’s hot for back to school in 2017! We had such a fun time partnering with the folks at…

5 Rides Everyone Can Ride at Epcot

Karyn Locke
Spaceship Earth at epcot

Sure, there’s plenty of thrill rides at Walt Disney World, but when you’re traveling with family or on a multigen vacation, there’s rides that not everyone can (or wants to) ride. So, which Walt Disney World rides CAN you hit with everyone in your vacation party? Here’s five attractions and rides anyone can ride at Epcot. When you’re traveling with your family to Walt Disney World, there’s bound to be times where not everyone can ride at the same time – and that can be a bummer. But, there are…

From Steel City to Culinary Cool: 5 Pittsburgh Foodie Finds

Karyn Locke
Butcher and the Rye Charcuterie

Our love for all-things Pittsburgh is definitely not covert – and that includes its booming foodie scene. On a recent press trip, we discovered hip, new restaurants and re-fell in love with a couple of Pittsburgh standards, too. Here’s five restaurants in Pittsburgh to let you wet your culinary whistle. Butcher and the Rye If you’re planning to catch a show in the Cultural District, Butcher and the Rye is a hot spot. With its creative menu offerings (think charcuterie with rabbit rillette and foie blonde pate), there’s plenty of…

Life Lessons Gained from Life Insurance

Karyn Locke
Life insurance for women from MetLife

This post was sponsored by MetLife life insurance as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Look, no one wants to relive, or even think about, horrible moments in their lives. It’s those times that the words simply don’t reach what we’re trying to comprehend and I rarely write about those kind of moments. But this time, I’m sharing with you the story of my mother and how her life insurance was a huge sigh of relief for my…

14 Magic Kingdom Rides for Everyone

Karyn Locke
Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride Magic Kingdom

Sure, there’s plenty of thrill rides at Walt Disney World, but when you’re traveling with family or on a multigen vacation, there’s rides that not everyone can (or wants to) ride. So, which Walt Disney World rides CAN you hit with everyone in your vacation party? Here’s our favorite Magic Kingdom rides for everyone. Not only is Magic Kingdom my top pick for the best park for multigenerational vacations, Magic Kingdom offers the most rides for all ages. It’s also the original park at Walt Disney World AND the one…

Teens and Screen Time: How Much Is too Much?

Karyn Locke
Kindle Fire Front seat

Teens and screen time. How much is too much, especially when it comes to teens and kids? Do you allow your children the freedom of using their tech as much as they’d like or limit usage? Do they give you flack for it? What do you provide as an alternative? Here’s my story on how I maintain a happy household with a tech-loving teen. Hi, my name is Karyn and I have a teenager. “Hi, Karyn.” While I may be making light of the fact just then, she is a…

Christmas at Disney World: First Timer’s Guide

Karyn Locke
Disney World and Magic Kingdom at Christmastime

First time celebrating Christmas at Disney World in late November/December? You’ve got to be feeling all of the feels right now! While you’ve got so much fun to plan and coordinate, it can be overwhelming, no doubt. Here’s a quick and easy first timer’s guide to Walt Disney World at Christmas to help you make the most of your vacation! I’m almost embarrassed to write this, but we celebrated Christmas at Walt Disney World for the first time in 2016. I do have really good excuses, though: Food & Wine…