Warning: This post is going to be sad For those of you that are new to following me, you may not know but in October 2019 I was on vacation and my 6 year old boston terrier, aka my best friend on four legs, went missing. He was staying with a friend while we were on vacation and decided to break free from their backyard and unfortunately, no one could catch him when they saw him running. My little man, Liam is his name, is probably the most scared dog I have ever met in my life. He has always been this way, the vet told me when he was a puppy that like some humans, some dogs just are afraid of things, so this didn’t help matters when kids and adults ran and called after him. For many agonizing days as I was stuck on a ship in other countries people that didn’t know me, my dog, or the friends that had been watching him, gathered together and helped in trying to find and catch Liam, but unfortunately this was unsuccessful. He would be seen briefly running at record speeds down a bike path, or through a yard, but he was too fast and then he was gone. By the time I returned home, no one was seeing him anymore. We continued the searches, day in and day out, barely eating or sleeping, just biking, walking, and searching. Flyers were out, signs were out, social media posts were everywhere, local shelters and groomers knew all about him, it felt like every stone was being turned over. As the days turned into weeks, we turned to things like pet communicators, which if anything, at least makes me feel like he is still out there and alive. We reached out to dog trackers, but we were told it was too late. We had traps out for 2 months, but they caught nothing but raccoons. We had a camera, which caught the same. I continue to post to social media sites every few days, in hopes that someone new might see it, or just to make sure everyone knows to still be on the lookout. Throughout this experience I have heard so many stories from so many others who have lost a pet and had it returned or lost a pet and never saw it again. There is so much that is unknown and every day it is a battle with my mind and my heart. Why am I writing this? I am writing this because I know someone out there is going through the same thing. Until we went through it, I never knew what it was like. It is one of the worst feelings I could have ever imagined. I do not have human children, so I cannot compare, but he was my child as I decided not to have children in my life. He was my best friend. Losing him has been like losing a part of me. My days are very different now. I don’t have him depending on me. I don’t have him following me around, wanting to know my every move. He isn’t there to cuddle me on the couch or the bed, or greet me at the door. The guilt I feel daily about not spending as much time with him because I always felt I had more time hangs over my head. I see constant posts on places like Nextdoor about how people must be bad pet owners because there are constantly lost dog posts, and it breaks my heart and I have to fight back. My little boy was so spoiled rotten. I did everything I could on the small salary I have to provide him with the best food possible, the healthiest treats possible, and anything I could to make sure he lived a very healthy lifestyle. So if you are someone reading this that might also be going through the same pain, understand that it is ok to feel angry and it is ok to feel hurt. Also know there are amazing people out there that are willing to help. I can’t believe the amount of support we have had over the last 2+ months while we have been searching for Liam. Honestly, the people that have invested so much time and energy that we do not even know, it has been so amazing to me and I cannot thank them enough.
I also find it hard not to compare myself to others that are in our same situation. So often I wonder if I am doing enough and feel that I am not. I’m not sure what is the “right amount.” At what point do you have to try to live your life with some semblance of normalcy before going crazy? I’ve had to tell myself that you have to do what you can without ruining your life. Going into the new year without my four legged best friend by my side is one of the hardest things ever, but the hope that so many strangers have brought to me and continue to bring to me every day is what keeps me going. I hope that eventually I will have an amazing homecoming story to report to you all, but until then, please continue to keep your eyes open and ears peeled. Liam, wherever you are, I love you, I hope that you are safe, and that you come home to us very soon.
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Jurassic World Comes to Orlando’s Amway Center January 17-20, 2020 Tickets are now on sale for Jurassic World Live Tour, an exhilarating and unpredictable live, family entertainment experience that will bring the wonder and thrills of Jurassic World to generations of fans in the Orlando area. With unrivaled arena production quality, Jurassic World comes to life against a backdrop of captivating scenery where dinosaurs from the iconic franchise, including fan-favorite Velociraptor Blue and a Tyrannosaurus rex more than 40 feet in length, take center stage. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs, each custom built with the latest technology, scientific precision and Hollywood studio quality. With scale, speed and ferocity, the animatronic and performer-operated dinosaurs deliver colossal, edge-of-your-seat, live entertainment unlike any other dinosaur experience. Jurassic World’s unmistakable score adds to the larger-than-life, immersive journey that will captivate fans of all ages. Through a combination of projection and practical scenery, the arena will transform into the dense jungles of Isla Nublar, where real Gyrospheres roll through the valley and scientists work to unravel a corrupt plan and save an all-new dinosaur from a terrible fate. With pulse-pounding stunts and an original, authentic storyline, this show is guaranteed to make memories that will last another 65 million years. “Working with a world-class production team and Universal filmmakers, we have extended the Jurassic World canon with a new story that can only be told through this live, arena spectacular as we bring full-scale dinosaurs to generations of fans around the globe,” said Juliette Feld Grossman, Chief Operating Officer of Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in live, touring family entertainment. “We have maximized the power of everything we do at Feld Entertainment, pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to ensure audiences have an authentic, awe-inspiring experience. Fans will leave with a sense of wonder, as if they’ve boarded the boat to Isla Nublar and literally stepped into Jurassic World.”
WHEN: January 17-20, 2020 WHERE: The Amway Center in Orlando, FL. The Amway Center is located at 400 W Church St #200, Orlando, FL 32801; parking is available in the attached garage for an additional fee. TICKETS: Visit jurassicworldlivetour.com for tickets and more information. The Orlando Millennial readers can get 20% off select seats with code ORJW20. Not valid on premium VIP seating. While supplies last. Hurry for the best available seats! Code expires January 16, 2020. FOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: www.facebook.com/JurassicWorldLiveTour Twitter: @JWlivetour Instagram: @jurassicworldlivetour Be sure to hashtag all your awesome pics, posts, and videos with: #JurassicWorldLive Disclaimer: I am a Feld Entertainment Blogger Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and other exclusive opportunities. As always, all opinions are my own. Looking for something unique and different to do in Orlando or at Disney World? Yesterday I took my sister for a tea time at The Garden View Tea Room at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World as part of her birthday celebration. I had never done this before and had actually only heard about this a few months ago (I had thought they only offered the Princess Tea). The tea time is really an awesome experience and reservations can be hard to come by, so be sure to book in advance! How does it work? Well 3 options are offered. There is The Bedfordshire Tea ($35 per person), The Cheshire Tea ($50 per person), and The Berkshire ($150 for 2). We both opted for The Cheshire Tea. The difference between this and the Bedfordshire is that you also get a plate with cheese and fruit. Being cheese lovers, we were definitely down for a cheese plate! Each person gets to choose their own pot of tea. I chose the nutty chocolate which was yummy. My sister chose the fig & rose white tea, which is special to the Garden View. Also delish! (Another pot is only $7.50 should you want a refill). After the cheese plate we moved on to the little sandwiches, scone with jam/clotted cream/lemon curd, and dessert. The sandwiches were yummy! If there is one you know you won’t like, beforehand they will let you order extra of another or switch for something else like a PB&J. I went for all the normal sammies. Sandwiches included: Egg salad, chicken curry, cucumber boursin, poached pear & gorgonzola, fire roasted tomato w/ oregano-goat cheese, and onion tart. My favs were probably the chicken curry and onion tart. The scone with jam, clotted cream, and lemon curd was good. There was also a strawberry preserve tart. I loved the lemon curd and I recommend putting the lemon curd on the tard - yum! For dessert, there were 3 options, but we both went with the trifle. The trifle offered to us was a cranberry trifle, which was yummy but I was SO full, there was no way I could finish the whole thing. FINAL THOUGHTS Would I go back? YES! However, this is more of a special occasion venue I think. I wouldn’t just go any day of the week. I would want to keep this a special place. I already booked it again for my birthday in February! Can men go? YES! So many men were there! Would I choose the same option again? It was a lot of food, so next time I would maybe go with The Bedfordshire option depending how hungry I am. I would not choose The Berkshire as I’m not much of a caviar person. Of course once we were done we had to check out all the holiday decor before it magically disappears in a few days... The start of a new year is full of promise, of resolutions for positive changes and of endless possibilities lying ahead. So, welcoming the year 2020 at Orlando's AAA Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek hotel is the perfect way to spend the evening, whether it's an intimate dinner for two or a small gathering of friends or family.
The hotel's AAA Four Diamond restaurants, the A Land Remembered signature steakhouse, and Cala Bella, an authentic Italian restaurant infused with the flavors of Tuscany, will offer prix fixe menus to help ring in the New Year. Dinner reservations are available from 5:30 - 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at RosenShingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., in Orlando. The cost is $75 per person plus tax and gratuity, and includes unlimited champagne. A limited ala carte menu also is available at each restaurant. For reservations, call 407-996-3663. AAA Four Diamond A Land Remembered Style, elegance, exceptional cuisine and impeccable service are always on the menu at A Land Remembered, the hotel's AAA Four Diamond steakhouse, making it an ideal way to celebrate the arrival of 2020. Dinner here begins with a choice of crab topped scallop or orange gastrique duck breast, followed by a choice of radicchio stone fruit salad or lobster bisque, and entrée choices of an 8 oz. Harris Ranch filet mignon, a pork porterhouse or a mouthwatering 10 oz. cold water lobster tail. Dessert is a heavenly dark chocolate and champagne raspberry mousse. Kick off the New Year with unforgettable performances at Real Music, Real Masters and come back in 2020 to enjoy Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends, the return of the Food & Wine Festival and much more! As 2019 draws to a close, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is ready to celebrate an action-packed beginning to an all new decade. With ALL-NEW attractions, events for the whole family, and world-class entertainment, families will be coming back again and again in 2020! Park guests can enjoy the below outlined seasonal events included in park admission leading up to the highly anticipated spring opening ofIron Gwazi, North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world.
New Year’s Celebrations December 31 In addition to the continuing festivities of Christmas Town every night through January 6, don’t miss your chance to take your New Year’s Eve to new heights on Florida’s best thrill rides! On December 31, park guests can enjoy of the sparkle of millions of lights at Christmas Town, dash through the night on amazing roller coasters, and then say hello to 2020 on the Festival Field with live DJ and band performances starting at 10:00 p.m., with a dazzling fireworks display that begins at midnight. Three Kings Day January 6 The festivities don’t stop once the ball drops – park guests can enjoy Christmas Town cheer through January 6, 2020 including the celebration of Three Kings Day. Visit the three wise men in person for song-filled storytelling and indulge in the park’s spin on delicious traditional dishes, from decadent tres leches cake to flavorful pulled pork hash. Real Music, Real Masters January 7-March 15 (weekly; Tuesday-Saturday) Busch Gardens’ longest running concert series is back with returning favorites and NEW acts! At the climate-controlled Stanleyville Theater, guests can enjoy incredible live performances spanning from the 1950s to today, including the following acts: Jan. 7- 12 Leonard, Coleman, and Blunt: Former Lead Singers of the Temptations, Platters and Drifters Jan. 14- 19 The Diamonds Jan. 21-26 NEW! BJ Thomas Jan. 28- Feb. 2 NEW! Piano Men: Sir Elton John and Billy Joel Tribute Feb. 4-9 NEW! Classic Stones Live: The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Tribute Show Feb. 11-16 NEW! Simply Queen: The Most Incredible Live Tribute to Queen Feb. 18- 23 NEW! Let’s Hang On™: America’s No. 1 Frankie Valli Tribute Show Feb. 25- March 1 Eaglemania: The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band March 3-8 Cirque Vertigo Featuring the Wallenda Duo March 10-15 NEW! ONES: Beatles’ #1 Hits Sesame Street® Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends February 1-16 (Saturday and Sunday) Join the Sesame Street krewe for a pirate filled paRrrr-ty! Families can enjoy special character interaction, themed story time, treasure scavenger hunts, and dance parties for pirate-inspired frivolity. NEW this year – on February 1 and 2, families can meet Aloysius Snuffleupagus, affectionately known as Snuffy, during the first ever Snuffy Weekend. The fun begins each Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area of the park. NEW! Mardi Gras Weekend February 22-23 (Saturday and Sunday) This year, guests can let the good times roll with limited-time food, cocktails, entertainment and live music – Mardi Gras style! Follow the fun to the Moroccan Palace Plaza. Food & Wine Festival February 29-April 26 (weekly; Saturday and Sunday) A world of taste awaits at the sixth annual Food & Wine Festival each weekend from February 29-April 26. The festival features new and exciting dishes, plus a large selection of wines, craft brews and cocktails. While enjoying delicious eats, fans can see some of the biggest names in music as they take the stage the Festival Field. All concerts are included with daily ticketed admission to the park. Best Way to Play – Busch Gardens Annual Pass or Fun Card From exciting events to amazing new attractions, don’t miss a moment with a Busch Gardens Annual Pass or Fun Card. Limited-time pricing is available now for all Annual Passes, starting as low as $11.25 per month for everyone on the nice list, with no down payment. Guests can choose an Annual Pass with unique benefits including FREE parking, FREE Serengeti Safari, merchandise and dining discounts in addition to special limited-time perks throughout the year. Or, guests can purchase a 2020 Fun Card for year-round admission for $109.99. In the New Year, parks-goers will enjoy exclusive ride time on Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world, and Solar Vortex, America’s first dual tailspin waterslide, when they open in spring 2020. Fans can learn more about new events, special deals and future announcements by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I am a Busch Gardens blogger ambassador. In exchange for sharing upcoming information sometimes I receive complimentary admission to events. As always, all opinions are my own. Hi all! I'm Michelle, a Virginia native who moved to Orlando, Florida in 2013 with her boyfriend and dog. Flash forward almost 7 years later and here I am, a full-time middle school teacher, an event planner on the side (which is about to end - hence why I am starting this blog), and a lifestyle blogger. I'm a travel enthusiast, a foodie, a selfie taker, a Yelp elite, a TV binge-watcher, a theme parker goer, a dog mom, a social media junkie, a wine lover, and so much more! I love to keep up on the local happenings and I love to experience new places. If you followed me on Orlando Housewives in the City, then welcome and thank you for following me to my new future home (this will officially be my new only spot come January 1st). If you did not follow me for the last 2 years, then also welcome - glad you found me and I hope that you continue to follow along! For the last 2 years I've been the Director of an amazing group called Orlando Housewives in the City. Through this I planned monthly networking events for local women of Central Florida as well as ran the Orlando lifestyle blog and social media pages. As much as I have loved this job, I found it was time for me to focus on my career, family, and the things I love most - social media and blogging! So, I am stepping away from the monthly events, handing the reins over, and moving on to my own page - The Orlando Millennial! What can you expect from me? Well, if you follow me on social media, you are sure to see photos of drinks, food, travel, theme parks, and more! I love to keep you up to date on current happenings at places like the Amway Center, Busch Gardens, Disney, etc. So, I hope this is the beginning of a very long journey together, and I thank you for reading my first post! Be sure to follow me on social media - I will be officially launching January 1st, 2020: Facebook.com/OrlMillennial Instagram.com/OrlMillennial Twitter.com/OrlMillenial1 Just a sampling of the type of photos to expect from me!
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Hey Ya'll!Hi all! I'm Michelle and I have been a lifestyle blogger since 2017. I used to host fun networking events around Orlando and now I've decided to take a step back and continue to focus on my favorite part - bringing you all the fun happenings around Central Florida, plus filling you in on my travels, life, and more! I'm a foodie, selfie-taking Millennial that loves spending time at the theme parks, traveling, and spending time with her dog, and trying new wine. I hope you enjoy reading my blog!
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