Year Round Family Fun with California's Great America

Summer may be over, but the fun continues at California's Great America! All this month the park has been celebrating Halloween with Trick or Treating with Snoopy for the little ones and Halloween Haunt for older kids and adults. (Check out my post about Halloween Haunt 2016 on Bonggamom Finds!). Here are a few Halloween Haunt photos to get you in the mood:

Then, in December, the holidays are coming to the park with their first-ever WinterFest celebration. I can't wait to celebrate the holidays at California's Great America!

If you have never visited California's Great America, you're missing out! Located in Santa Clara, CA, the heart of Silicon Valley and at the edge of the San Francisco Bay, California's Great America is the Bay Area's best entertainment value. With more than 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions on 100 acres, California's Great America truly has something for everyone.

New for 2016
California's Great America and Electronic Arts (EA) have teamed up to create a first-of-its-kind guest experience at Great America. This dynamic new attraction features settings and characters from EA's critically acclaimed Mass Effect videogame series developed by BioWare.

Riders climb aboard motion-based seating and wear 3D glasses as they are taken on a thrilling adventure. A live performer curates the journey and appears to interact seamlessly with the next generation 3D visuals. These elements are integrated with motion seating, high tech sound and other 4D effects to create a truly compelling and immersive attraction. Guests travel through space to a distant planet, face off against bigger than life adversaries and ultimately help save the day.

My Readers can Save $23 off Tickets at California's Great America Theme Park #greatamerica use code: BLOG4CGA http://www.cagreatamerica.com

Disclosure: I will be receiving free tickets to California's Great America courtesy of US Family Guide. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Holiday Card Checklist -- what to do to ensure the perfect family holiday card

The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming! It's time to start planning your annual holiday cards! Here's a checklist of things to do in the next 3 weeks or so:

1. If you haven't had your family holiday photos taken, now is the time. Book a photographer or set up a tripod and do it on your own. 
2. Go through last year's card list. Make sure all mailing addresses are current. Don't forget to add all the new friends you've made in the last year!
3. Family newsletter: yes or no? Some people love 'em, some hate 'em, but if you're on the love side it's time to start thinking about what you want to include.
4. Buy holiday stamps at the post office before the rush begins
5. Print out holiday address labels or order personalized ones online.
6. Last but not least, choose your holiday card designs!

Speaking of holiday card designs, check out AdoramaPix's  AdoramaPix's holiday collection. Choose from a wide range of stunning designs and paper options. Then, upload your photo and customize any holiday card with your own personal touches. Holiday snail mail has never looked so good!

Shop Now: http://bit.ly/2d7blyf 40% off greeting cards. Use code:. PXUSFAM40 Sale ends 12/20/2016 11:59 PM EST


Disclosure: I will be receiving sample cards from AdoramaPix for review.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Telemedicine: treating patients in the 21st century

One of the best things about living in the 21st century is the ability to connect with friends and family even when they are far away. Inexpensive phones and data plans as well as numerous software makes it easy for people like me who live apart from extended family. Without email, instant messaging, and Facebook, I'd never know what was going on halfway around the world!

The ability to communicate over long distances doesn't just help families stay together. It helps businesses and educational institutions collaborate with partners to share knowledge and information. And when applies to the field of medicine, it even helps save lives! There's even a term for it: Telemedicine.

Telemedicine, or the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide healthcare from a distance, is a growing phenomenon. There are so many areas in the world where doctors are scarce, so what better use is there for modern tech than to bring more medical expertise to rural communities and other disadvantaged areas? For example, a community may have trained midwives to deliver babies, which is adequate in 99% of all birthing situations, but for rare medical emergencies I can totally see midwives using telemedicine to consult with neonatal experts.  As another example, many patients travel hundreds of miles to see specialists and have procedures done. In many cases, the specialists could monitor the patients as they recuperate from home, eliminating the need for them to travel back to the doctor for a routine follow-up visit.

Telemedicine doesn't just help patients in developing countries or rural communities. Even suburban moms will find that telemedicine helps streamline their busy lives! I can't tell you how many times my kids have had a cough or a rash and I've had to make room in my schedule for a doctor's visit, only to have the doctor say it's just a viral rash/common cold/postnasal drip due to allergies, then prescribe rest and fluids. You don't want to ignore the problem, but you don't want to waste everyone's time either -- and consulting Dr. Google is definitely not a viable option! Having an option of videoconferencing with a qualified doctor would be so much easier and more efficient for everyone involved.

I know I'm not the only mom who feels this way. Click on the infographic above to see how women feel about combining technology and health management!

That's where telemedicine companies like Live Health Online come in. LiveHealth Online uses two way video to connect you with U.S. based board certified doctors. And since it’s an online experience, it’s quick, easy and always on your terms. But convenience also comes with excellent service. Doctors using LiveHealth Online can answer your questions, assess your condition and even provide prescriptions, if needed. For more information, check out Live Health Online's Facebook Page and Twitter feed.

Of course, telemedicine needs to be used carefully. Sometimes a doctor needs to be physically present. Data connections need to be impeccable, otherwise information can be transmitted inaccurately (i.e. blurry images due to poor lighting or grainy cameras). Safeguards need to be in place so that information does not get lost or stolen. However, I firmly believe the pros outweigh the cons. We live in a global, connected world, and telemedicine is just another manifestation of that fact. Telemedicine has the potential to save many lives and spread information all around the world.


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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