Brandcation Sponsors

Emerald Grande

• https://www.facebook.com/TheEG.Destin
• http://www.emeraldgrande.com/

Destin Snorkel

• https://www.facebook.com/destin.snorkel
• http://www.destinsnorkel.com/
• Trip adviser: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34182-d1902245-Reviews-Destin_Snorkel-Destin_Florida.html

Buccaneer Pirate Cruise

• http://destinpirateship.com/
• trip adviser : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34182-d3331383-Reviews-Buccaneer_Pirate_Cruise-Destin_Florida.html

Restaurants that hosted us

• Emerald Grande (Grande Vista Level), they did breakfast and lunch
• Jim and Nicks Catering and Restaurant: http://www.jimnnicks.com/  andhttps://www.facebook.com/JimNNicks
• Harry T’s: http://www.harryts.com/ (menu on their page) facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Harry-Ts-Lighthouse
• La Familia: http://www.lafamigliadestin.com/  andhttps://www.facebook.com/lafamigliadestinfl

Pictured are my favorite swag bag products!  From Top Left to Bottom Right:

O-Venture (key-rings), Belkin (iPhone 5 cover), Kitty Hawk Kites (kite), Destin Snorkel (shirt), Camera Coats (camera cover) and Mommy Tonic (conversation game)

Swag and Sponsors info:

Flashing Blinky Lights

• http://www.flashingblinkylights.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/EllyD4FBL?fref=ts

LifeLock

• http://www.lifelock.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/LifeLock

Band-Aid, Neosporin, Johsons Baby 

• Twitter: @rfbinder

CoTZ Face Mineral Sunscreen   

• Twitter: @CoTZskincare
• https://www.facebook.com/cotzskincare

Tervis  

• http://www.facebook.com/TervisTumblerCo
• Twitter: @tervistumbler
• http://www.tervis.com/

• Twitter: @refectwhoiam
• https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reflect-Who-I-Am/124972764261232
• http://www.reflectwhoiam.com/

Brush Buddies

• Twitter: @brushbuddies
• http://www.facebook.com/brushbuddies

• http://www.facebook.com/belkin
• Twitter: @belkin
•  http://www.belkin.com

O-Venture (keyrings)

• twitter – @shopoventure
• http://www.etsy.com/shop/OVenture
• http://facebook.com/shopoventure

• https://www.facebook.com/RockAPocket
• http://www.rockapocket.com/

• https://www.facebook.com/loadedquestions
• Twitter: @FamPartyGames

Mommy Tonic

• http://www.mommytonic.com/

Clean and Clear/Neutrogena

• http://www.cleanandclear.com/

**MOST photos featured are courtesy of  TRISHA at www.momdot.com and can be found here in this ALBUM. 

I was an attendee of Brandcation:Destination. Portions of our trip were compensated by awesome companies excited to show us about the Emerald Coast. All Opinions are my own.

The post Brandcation Sponsors…. THANK YOU! appeared first on Joyful Musings.

Flashing Blinky Lights decked out our pirate costumes with all kinds of glowing products! We were all adorned in light up pirate accessories and Slow Color Change Soft Rings. We also took along our  LED Inspiration Ice Cubes to keep our drinks fun!

I absolutely love the bottom right picture of Nicole, from Miss Blondie!  She is wrapped in cellophane while having a balloon popped on her back AND she is still representing Flashing Blinky Lights!

Are you in need of glow products?  Check out www.FlashingBlinkyLights.com to make your purchase!  You can also follow them on Twitter or Facebook. Niki always posts creative ways to use their products for all occasions!

**MOST photos featured are courtesy of  TRISHA at www.momdot.com and can be found here in this ALBUM.

I was an attendee of Brandcation:Destination. Portions of our trip were compensated by awesome companies excited to show us about the Emerald Coast. All Opinions are my own.

The post Arrh Matey! Flashing Blinky Lights Represents Again! appeared first on Joyful Musings.

Buccaneer Pirate Ship takes to the seas from HarborWalk Village Marina, Destin, Florida. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime upon the pristine waters of the Emerald Coast. Come one, come all and discover the hidden treasures of bygone days. Entertainment and interaction adventure and excitement for the young and young at heart, beginning to end.

Buccaneer is a 100’ Pirate Ship, build in 2012, equipped with 2 restrooms and plenty of room to walk about. Inside the galley, the pirates and wenches serve up hot dogs, smoothies, soft drinks, beer and wine, and other various snacks.

Our priority is to create an exciting, family-fun adventure that is like no other. Aboard the ship, safety and passenger comfort are great concerns and you are in good hands with experienced captain and crew. Join us for your two-hour thrilling voyage that your whole family will remember as the highlight of your Destin Vacation.

Unlock the treasure of your heart and let your dreams come true!

We were all adorned in pirate costumes and experienced hours of laughter on this very enjoyable pirate themed adventure. Although, dressing as a pirate for the cruise is not a requirement, it sure was fun to get into the spirit of the trip!

The Scurvy Dog’s Club is a 21 and up cruise because to the type of entertainment that is provided. The entertainment is adult focused, but is absolutely hilarious and a ton of fun! The entertainment included naughty themed games and a bunch of dancing!  I was chosen to play in a game with Trisha, from MomDot.  The object of the game was to move a half deflated beach ball to the opposite end of the deck and back, with an orange that was inside stocking (pantyhose) tied to my waist.  Other bloggers where chosen to be wrapped in cellophane and then thrust their bodies together to pop a balloon. Trust me it was as entertaining as it sounds.  We laughed the entire two hours!  It was so much fun!

When you are in the Destin area I highly recommend that you take a cruise on the Buccaneer.  You can take the Scurvy Dog’s Cruise or a Treasure Hunt.  Which ever cruise you choose I am certain you will have a good time!

Buccaneer Pirate Cruise

Pricing

Mateys (Adults):      Landlubbers (60+):         Scallywags (Kids 4-14):              Lil’ Bucs (3 & Under):
    $36.00                              $30.00                                    $20.00                                       FREE

Schedule

Monday – Saturday Year Round Cruises

Click Here to Book Your Cruise Today!

**MOST photos featured are courtesy of  TRISHA at www.momdot.com and can be found here in this ALBUM. 

I was an attendee of Brandcation:Destination. Portions of our trip were compensated by awesome companies excited to show us about the Emerald Coast. All Opinions are my own.

 

The post Buccaneer Pirate Cruise Destin Florida appeared first on Joyful Musings.

Breathtaking Views

Florida’s Emerald Coast offers 24 miles of pristine white-sand beaches stretching along the Gulf of Mexico. This sand, made up of pure Appalachian quartz, remains remarkably cool even in the heat of summer, and gives the waters here their trademark emerald-green color by reflecting sunlight back up through the surf.

http://www.emeraldcoastfl.com/

Whether it be from the east or the west each condo has a view of the white sands and emerald-green waters. It’s absolutely breath-taking!

Home Away From Home

The condo’s were absolutely stunning. They were immaculately clean and were very spacious.  Every condo was decorated with a Pier One/Pottery Barn feel. It felt like a home away from home. The beds were incredibly comfortable and were a perfect place to rest your head after a long day at the beach.

With four different Condo-Hotel categories to accommodate families of all sizes, you’ll enjoy luxurious hotel accommodations that include custom-crafted furnishings and lavish baths, with a level of service that sets the standard for all other family resorts.

All Luxury Condos Include

*Spacious Floor Plans        *Private Balconies                     *Daily Maid Service

*Large Plush Beds                *Flat Screen TV’s                        *Free Wi-Fi

*Gourmet Kitchen               *Stainless Steel Appliance      *Granite Countertops

*Relaxing Garden Tub        *In Room Safes                            *Washers/Dryers in all units

*Full Service Concierge

Please forgive the poor lighting in the condo photo’s. Although I can’t really complain about the sun being to bright to catch a good shot can I??

Customer Service

They are a top-notch resort that worked hard to make sure each guest’s needs were met. The first night we experience a backed up toilet in our room and the maintenance staff was prompt in repairing the issue. Several times I had a deer in the head lights look trying to navigate my way through the resort. Every time I was greeted by a staff member asking if they could lead me in the proper direction. We had traveled to Destin the weekend before peak season started. If you have ever traveled to a tourism driven economy during off-peak season, you have noted that the service can be less than stellar. This was certainly not the case for The Emerald Grande, each staff member greeted us with smiles and an eagerness to help.

Amenities

There are several amenities on site at The Emerald Grande.  You can spend the day at the spa, swim in the indoor our outdoor pool, take a water shuttle to a private beach, work out in the on site gym or explore Harborwalk Village. It truly is a family friendly resort that offers something for everyone.

The Grande Vista is a wonderful restaurant on the same floor as the pool.  You can enjoy a meal inside in the air conditioning or pool side.  We ate at the Grande Vista for  breakfast and lunch while at Brandcation.  The food was yummy and satisfying.

Harborwalk Village

The Harborwalk Village may be enjoyed by all visitors of the Emerald Coast. It is an extension of the resort, but available to all visitors of the Destin area.  It is a short walk from you condo to reach the village.  You will find that the village is a wonderful boardwalk lined with shopping, food, attractions and water activities that will keep you entertained for days!

Yummy Food!

La famigilia *Italian style food and Pizzeria

Harry T’s *Surf and Turf Menu

Starbucks

Ice-cream

Crab Island Cantina *Authentic Gourmet Mexican Food

Water Activities

Paddleboarding

Boat shuttle to a private beach

Pools

Jet Ski’s

Pontoon Boat rental

Shopping

Dalton & Company

The Redneck General Store

Nightlife

AJ’s

Coyotes Ugly

Oh and don’t forget that to stop in and get a caricature with Deano or play corn hole in front of Harry T’s! As you can see there is so much to do and see at The Harborwalk!

It provides hours of entertainment and activities for all ages. I promise that’s where all the cool families are enjoying themselves.

**MOST photos featured are courtesy of  TRISHA at www.momdot.com and can be found here in this ALBUM.

I was an attendee of Brandcation:Destination. Portions of our trip were compensated by awesome companies excited to show us about the Emerald Coast. All Opinions are my own.

The post Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village appeared first on Joyful Musings.

Graceful Nights

My sister in law, Amyee, worked to plan the intricate details of the event with me.  She is such a creative gal and I was super happy she agreed to plan a large event with me. She assisted in planning the layout, the centerpieces, the tulle ceiling, divider walls and more.   We had a wonderful group of ladies help us in making the centerpieces and decorating the day of the auction.   The room is incredibly large and fairly blank, as we decorated it we felt challenged that perhaps we hadn’t done enough decorating. Yet, once it was full of all the auction items and patrons the look we sought to achieve was completed.  We were both very pleased to create such an elegant affair.

*I fully intend to create a post on how to make these adorable yarn ball centerpieces.  There was a lot of trial and error for me. So I can’t wait to share with you the best way I found to make them.

The PTL members worked very hard to gather several donations from corporations, small businesses, school families and many other places. These donations are what helped to make the auction a true success. Without them there would be no auction at all!

The food was absolutely amazing at the auction. The food committee did a wonderful job with the hors d’oeuvres and had many people coming back for seconds and thirds.  Especially the white chocolate covered spoons with fruit. They were a hit!

Overall the 2013 Spring Auction was a true success.  The PTL raised almost $7000 for the school!  It was  a pleasure planning the event and working with a wonderful group of women!

I would like to give an extra special shout out to DressUnited and Signsonthecheap for creating our yard signs for the event.  This is the second time they have donated to our Parent Teacher League.  On behalf of the entire school, thank you for supporting our children.

The post Graceful Nights Live & Silent Auction appeared first on Joyful Musings.

Destin, Florida

I grew up on the far east end of Gulf Breeze, FL just a mere 33 miles from Destin Florida. Before this trip, I had never traveled to the area for anything other than to shop at the outlet stores. There are many wonderful attractions, lodging, and food in Destin Florida. I was able to see first hand that Destin has far more to offer to tourists than outlet stores.

We stayed in a condo at The Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village that over looks the most emerald-green water I have ever seen! It definitely deserves its title as “The Emerald Coast.” The white sandy  beaches along side the Gulf of Mexico make Destin a wonderful place to see tropical waters and marine life without leaving the continental U.S.

The Harborwalk Village  is available for all tourists of DestinFlorida to enjoy.  The boardwalk has several attractions available for all families.  I appreciated that there was a good balance of family activities along with night life.  Deep Sea Charters, Kids Zone and several restaurants line the boardwalk. You can rent Jet Ski’s, pontoon boats, or  you may choose to Paddleboard or Hang Glide with Kitty Hawk Kites. The opportunities to enjoy your stay in Destin are endless.

Destin Snorkel

Destin Snorkel located in the Harborwalk Village and they took us on a snorkeling and snubaing adventure Saturday morning.  Yes, you read that right SNUBA!  Snuba is a mixture between snorkeling and scuba diving.  Scuba diving requires lessons to receive a license to scuba and because most tourists are not equipped with a license they cannot dive. Snuba provides the swimmer a chance to dive as deep as 30 feet and experience the beauty of Inlet Reef without a license.  I don’t know all the technical details of how this is completed but I can vouch that it was a very neat experience.  The tropical fish and creatures were breath-taking.  I cannot remember at time (except for when we were in the Bahamas) that I’ve swam in such clear green water.

The employees of Destin Snorkel were knowledgeable and courteous while on our excursion.  They helped all the attendees feel comfortable using the equipment and exploring the water. It was definitely an experience of a life time. One I really hope to repeat in the near future with my family.

The Emerald Coast was recently voted “Best Beach: Family” by viewers of the Travel Channel.  And now I know why! They have fantastic activities and attractions that will make a special visit for you and your family.

For more information about special offers and information about Destin’s great visitor attractions, please visit www.EmeraldCoastFl.com.  It is a fabulous resource for travel planning on the Emerald Coast.

**MOST photos featured are courtesy of  TRISHA at www.momdot.com and can be found here in this ALBUM. 

I was an attendee of Brandcation:Destination. Portions of our trip were compensated by awesome companies excited to show us about the Emerald Coast. All Opinions are my own.

The post Brandcation: Destination/ Destin Florida appeared first on Joyful Musings.