#SoxWinterWeekend at Foxwoods with the Red Sox recap

This past weekend, we had the pleasure to join the Boston Red Sox at Foxwoods for their #SoxWinterWeekend. We had an amazing time! There were so many "great moments" it's hard to nail it down to just a few but here's some highlights...

We first checked in at the Grand Pequot hotel to pick up our passes. When we registered for the weekend we got a welcome email about a week before telling us what to expect but also asking us to preregister for autograph and photo sessions and whether or not we wanted to take part in the Kids Clinic or add on a breakfast with Wally to our package.

The preregistration was a great idea because it allowed us to select autograph times that were convenient to us. While there were 4 rooms per hour, and we didn't know which player/coach would be in which room, so we chose at random.

While there were quite a lot of lines for the autograph sessions or player panels, everything seemed to run smoothly and the team was really smart to have some entertainment provided for fans while they waited in line.

We also liked that you could use the MLB Ballpark app to get the schedule for the weekend at any time on your mobile device. The panels were amazing: we were able to relive the '07 world series championship as they brought head coach John Farrell, Tim Wakefield, and Jason Varitek to tell some inside stories from the season and answer fans' questions. The other sessions were Call to the Hall which had Sox who were in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a game show which had players play against coaches and even a press conference from the kids in attendance - those questions were the best and a few were absolutely hilarious!

The fan fest in the Premier ballroom in Fox Tower had something for everyone and was open even after the sessions all ended so you could still experience it if you were in panels and getting autographs all day. They literally brought the Fenway experience from Boston to Foxwoods: banners, David Ortiz' lego statue which is normally out in the kids' concourse, Mickey Mouse adorned in Red Sox logos and colors that usually is on the 3rd base deck, and silver bats and gold gloves. They had batting cages, wiffle bats for the little ones, a mini baseball field that kids could field balls, the Sox Showcase with Red Sox Virtual Reality, steal-a-base contest, NESN Clubhouse auditions and even the Team Store!

NOTE: We were provided with passes to attend Winter Weekend at Foxwoods from the Boston Red Sox. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are our own.

My paternity leave...

So, my paternity leave ends this Wednesday. Our son was born last August, but my wife went back to work at the beginning of the year. I'm truly fortunate because I was able to move my leave to coincide with when she went back to work. So, I've been off of work, taking care of my son since the start of the new year (the past two weeks) and it's been incredible. I have a whole newfound respect for stay-at-home parents and single parents. I have learned a whole bunch of new things for taking care of my son and daughter and trying to coordinate drop-offs, pick ups, diaper changes, feeding, doctor appointments, rides to after school activities, etc. I now have gained an appreciation for trying to do it all, while trying to keep the house in some form of shape and not a disaster. Sidenote: I wasn't able to keep the house in any form of neatness. It's a total mess. 

What I've learned most and am most thankful for is that it truly takes a village to raise a child. I've been thankful to be able to lean on my family and close friends for assistance for the duration. I've learned from watching my parents and how excited they are and how much they care. I've also been able to balance a few commitments and also was able to take my daughter to her after school programs which was really special.

I truly enjoyed each moment I was able to have with my kids and am looking forward to going back to my day job, knowing that I had this time to bond with my kids. It truly is a gift.

Win 2 tickets to the New England Auto Show with SheBuysCars.com

This year, Toyota and SheBuysCars.com are partnering to offer a giveaway for 10 pairs of tickets and we would like to include our readers on the fun! Just be sure to enter the rafflecopter below and the folks at SheBuysCars will pick the winners. See contest rules below.

SheBuysCars.com will also be sharing what they leaned at the auto show on Twitter during their Twitter party on Thursday, January 12th at 8PM ET, and announcing the names of ticket winners. Just follow along using our hashtag (#ToyotaBoston)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 2017 New England International Auto Show is coming to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from January 12 through the the 16th. More information is available at http://www.bostonautoshow.com/

NOTE: We were provided with tickets and invited to check out the auto show. We'll let you know what we think! All opinions are our own.

Contest rules: Entries must be completed by 8:45PM ET, January 12, 2017. No purchase necessary; contest open only to US residents; winners will be notified by email by January 12, 2017. Winners MUST pick up tickets in person at the New England International Auto Show, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, between January 12, 2017 and January 16, 2017. Winners may be asked to provide identification to receive their prize. Prize value $30 per prize, not exchangeable for cash or other items. Grand prize value is $180; grand prize MUST be picked up at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and winner will be asked to provide identification. A total of 10 pairs of tickets will be awarded and a total of 1 grand prize will be awarded.

Scrape-A-Round ice scraper

If you're tired of scraping your windows the old fashioned way, then join the Scrape-A-Round movement. You will secure your family's safety, access new gift ideas and scrape your windows cleaner in half the time with the world's best windshield ice scraper. View the Scrape-A-Round action

The Scrape-a-round is a brilliant feat of ice scraping engineering. The simple explanations why Scrape-A-Round is the best ice scraper are as follows, Scrape-A-Round is the:

• Best ice scraper because of the softer plastic, allows the scraper to conform to the window curvature! Find out more information: http://www.scrapearound.com/
• 18" of ice scraping surface.
• The comfortable grasp provides relief for the arthritic or carpal syndrome sufferer.
• Direct pressure to the window, no pressure lost through the ice scraper!
• The circular rotational motion of ice scraper.
• Double ice scraper action, leading edge and trailing edge.
• Multi functional, remove the cap and it doubles as a funnel. 
• This scrapes windows frost and ice free in half the time!

My readers get to save! Get FREE Shipping at http://www.scrapearound.com/   Use code LU8FBEZREU2 at checkout.  


NOTE: I will be provided with Scrape-a-round for review purposes. No other compensation was provided.

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Lights

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Lights are the perfect gift this holiday season. They have a full range of comic book, super hero, Disney Princess, sports and car lights that look as though they are popping right out of the wall! They are battery operated and cool to the touch so you can place them any where in the room! Your kids will loves having these in their rooms and they're also the perfect editions to a den, family room, man's cave or office! Find all of these amazing products here: http://bit.ly/TargetUSFamily

Disney on Ice Dare to Dream ticket giveaway (ends soon!)

Hey guys, Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream is coming to Boston's Agganis Arena for winter break from December 23, 2016 through January 1, 2017. Tickets start at just $10 and is great to bring the family!

Join your hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they share the heroic stories of four of your favorite Disney Princesses. Laugh along with Disney’s hair-raising escapade, Tangled, as Rapunzel, Flynn and Maximus embark on an uproarious expedition that soars to new heights! Travel to the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as she escapes from the Evil Queen. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Watch as Cinderella’s dreams come true with a little help from her animal friends and the Fairy Godmother. Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, in a magical, musical journey. Make memories your whole family will treasure for a lifetime, while dancing and singing along, as the Disney Princesses inspire you to Dream Big!

We are giving away a four-pack of tickets for opening night (12/23) at 7 pm. You can enter the giveaway through the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: We were provided with tickets to attend the show as well as tickets to giveaway to one of our lucky readers! As always all opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Macys has great options for the holiday season!

Macy's has always had great options for the holiday season and this year it's no different. Every year when I go, I can find exactly what I'm looking for, whether it's jeans or clothes for the kids or the wife, homegoods for the family or other items around the store they have exactly what you're looking for at a great price. What's nice is that they also run some great sales during the holiday season, so be sure to check out your local Macy's.

One of the things I love to do is to look for great deals on things that will give my wife rest and relaxation or something that she can enjoy. I also love to find things for the kids that they will enjoy and Macy's has just the right items that are easy to find and versatile.

Just a little bit of advice from one dad to another.

NOTE: I was provided with a gift card to facilitate this review but no other compensation was provided and as always all opinions are my own.