The stadium serves as host to the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, the Miami Hurricanes, and the annual Orange Bowl college football game.

Land Shark Stadium was the first of its kind in the NFL to be constructed entirely with private funds. Joe Robbie led the financing campaign to build Joe Robbie Stadium (JRS) for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. JRS revolutionized the economics of professional sports when it opened in 1987. Inclusion of a Club Level, along with Executive Suites, helped to finance the construction of the stadium. Season ticket holders committed to long term agreements and in return received first-class amenities in a state-of-the-art facility.

Since its construction, the stadium has hosted four Super Bowls (XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII and XLI), two World Series (1997 and 2003), and three BCS National Championship Games (2001, 2005, 2009). The stadium served as host for the second round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and will host Super Bowl XLIV and the 2010 Pro Bowl.

Ever since the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007, I have been drawn to watching the game each year. Let me just say that when I say, I watch the Super Bowl game, I mean that I watch more than just the commercials!

This year’s Super Bowl will be held in Florida. On Sunday, Feb. 7, Super Bowl XLIV will take place in Miami at the Dolphin Stadium. The 2010 Pro Bowl marks the first time the event has been on the mainland in 30 years and the first time in South Florida in 35 years.

Can you imagine how exciting it would be to attend a Super Bowl game? My daughter was able to watch the Colts play the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida last month and said it was an amazing and fun event.

I will have to be satisfied with going to a friend’s house to watch the game. We ladies always meet at her house to watch the game and eat snacks. It is so much easier to visit and watch the game now that our kids are grown. Our husbands descend on another friend’s house where they can get loud and eat ungodly hot food. Can you imagine how much the bathroom gets used at that house?

Speaking of all the flushing that will be going on, I thought I would enlighten everyone about the sweepstakes “Is Your Bowl Ready for the Big Game?” I think it is fitting that 2000 Flushes, a WD-40 Company, is offering a fun sweepstakes during the time when approximately 90 million toilets will be flushed during the super bowl halftime.

2000 Flushes keeps your bowl sanitary and clean– flush after flush, for up to 4 months. I love the way it smells and makes me feel like the toilet is really clean when I use it. If you are wondering where to buy 2000 Flushes, you can find it at most grocery, drug, home improvement, mass merchandiser (e.g., Target and Wal-Mart, etc.), and other retail outlets. It is also available at their online retailer.

To Enter to Win, visit the microsite and fill out a form. How easy is that? Oh, and you can enter daily to increase your chances of winning. Winning a weekly prize does NOT effect chances of Grand Prize selection so be sure to visit every day!

• (1) Grand Prize – $10,000 Bathroom Makeover
• (99) Weekly Prizes of free product (coupon for free 2000 Flushes product)
• A $1 off coupon is also available to download from the sweepstakes site

Distribution of products by 2000 Flushes, a WD-40 Company, to Participating Parties (media, bloggers, or other third parties or individuals) for the purpose of review and/or endorsement are done so in faith that the Participating Parties will be in compliance with FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising and other related regulations, applicable statutes, regulations, or requirements of any government authority as they relate to subsequent posts or promotional material featuring 2000 Flushes or any of its products resulting from distribution by 2000 Flushes.

Since it is not possible to ski year around, at least where I live, it is important to prevent sore muscles by keeping them in shape all year round. Maintaining an exercise schedule that uses the muscles used when skiing will help you enjoy the sport. You will also need plenty of cardio endurance to enjoy your day of skiing. If you don’t build up your cardio endurance, you may find yourself tiring midstream. Exertion causes mishaps. You don’t want to get hurt because you lack the stamina to ski as much as you want.

So, find something that helps you get through the winter months. It might be reading a book or playing card games. Whatever it is, have fun with it!

Aquariums have gift shops indicative to the creatures shown in their giant tanks. You want a stuffed dolphin? You got it! I am fascinated when I see a seahorse or a starfish encased in a round ball of glass known as a paperweight. Now, these are souvies worth taking home!

While the United States is rich in history, it cannot compare to European countries. If you are interested in history, you will have struck the mother lode when traveling in Switzerland. From August 23 – 30, 2009 you can study the history of Europe’s Switzerland and save at participating hotels like the Beau-Rivage Palace.

There are so many fabulous, historical hotels in Switzerland that there is an award for “The Historic Hotel / Restaurant of the Year”. This year’s recipient is the Gasthof Hirschen of Eglisau. This hotel is over 300 years old, and has been in the same family for most of its life!

We all have noticed that large sports centers are often named for businesses who are willing to pay for their name to be associated with said structure. Those naming rights gave this old looking new building its name. Conseco is a financial services organization based in Carmel, Indiana, less than 20 minutes from downtown Indianapolis.

Conseco is the home of the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever. The Indiana Ice also use Conseco Fieldhouse as their home arena for a few games a year.

We like to refer to these items of new found interest as Swiss “Pearls”. Pearls are gems and we found gems in the Swiss culture that we will always treasure. One such pearl is that the cities of Basel, Geneva, Winterthur, Zug and Zurich offer special ladies’ tours which relate the history of these cities from a distinctly female perspective.

Ladies Tour the City

I think of dark beer when I think of European countries but did you know that hops are used not just in beer, but also find their way into schnapps, vinegar, oil, pralines, pasta, tea, cosmetics and herbal remedies. In the Hof Hopfentropfen brewery in Switzerland, visitors can attend a brewing seminar or a demonstration brewing. You might be surprised to find that at the brewery, you can help with the production of the brewery’s own special beer!

Making Beer

Check out all that Switzerland has to offer. You will discover Swiss “Pearls” like making cheese or even how paper was manufactured in Medieval times.

Medieval Papermaking

When we visited Switzerland, we were fortunate to purchase a unique bell that we display in our family room. I have since discovered that it is possible to cast your own bell at the bell foundry in Berger in Bärau. What an awesome souvenir a self made bell would be to remember your trip to Switzerland. This is a picture of the bell we purchased:

Casting a Bell

The enjoyment of visiting Switzerland is only limited by time! Plan your trip now.

]]> http://www.karensroad.com/2009/08/03/swiss-pearls/feed/ 1 http://www.karensroad.com/2009/08/01/mammoth-cave-revisited/ http://www.karensroad.com/2009/08/01/mammoth-cave-revisited/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:06:01 +0000 Karen http://www.karensroad.com/?p=937 It has been so many years since our family has visited Mammoth Caves. I think it is time to go there again! The park encompasses large parts of Edmonson County, Kentucky and smaller area of Hart County and Barren County which is not far from where we live.

Mammoth Cave is the most extensive cave system known so far, with over 365 miles already explored. One might think that the name comes from the prehistoric Wooley Mammoth however, the name actually comes from the word mammoth as in large in size.

When we visited the cave, we took a tour much like the first tours of 1797 when the cave was discovered. It was surprising how cool the temperature was since it was horribly hot outdoors. The guide turned off his light and we felt an unusual sense of calm as we were in pitch black darkness. I was glad to have the light back once again.

Archeological investigations proved that prehistorically the Mammoth Cave was used by Native Americans as a burial place, as most mummies presented evidence of pre-Columbian funerary practice.

The main attractions remain features such as Grand Avenue, Frozen Niagara, and Fat Man’s Misery which was the tour we took. The cave tours vary in difficulty and length, the cave being either lighted electrically or by the paraffin lamps carried by the visitors themselves.

]]> http://www.karensroad.com/2009/08/01/mammoth-cave-revisited/feed/ 4 http://www.karensroad.com/2009/07/21/lets-go-camping/ http://www.karensroad.com/2009/07/21/lets-go-camping/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:19:00 +0000 Karen http://www.karensroad.com/?p=931 In an effort to aid American’s wishing to find inexpensive travel choices, the National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer! During the weekends of June 20-21, July 18-19, and August 15-16, 2009, 391 national parks located across the country are anxiously awaiting your visit.

When visitors spend their vacations at the parks, the local economy will also get a boost. Many businesses in towns near the parks reap the benefits of travelers visiting them.

Every year parents spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on toys and activities for their kids. While many of things are great for keeping young minds and bodies active, many of them are unnecessary. Sure kids need structured play, but they also need “free” plan and this is easy to do when the world’s largest playground is right outside your back door. Why not let them play outside?

Every toy, book, and TV show that comes out has been designed and redesigned several times in order to make it educational and entertaining for children. The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it’s also educational. Nature can teach children the basics of science, economics, and creativity.

It’s cheap. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually have low cost fees or memberships). This way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational play.

It makes them think. Lately there’s been a trend in education towards inquiry based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be able to learn things on their own later. What better environment to learn things than out in nature. There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.

It may help the world. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career, or world saving invention.

It’s fun. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.

While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find a lot of places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.

Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature. That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well.

]]> http://www.karensroad.com/2009/07/21/lets-go-camping/feed/ 5 http://www.karensroad.com/2009/07/14/indianapolis-soldiers-and-sailors-monument/ http://www.karensroad.com/2009/07/14/indianapolis-soldiers-and-sailors-monument/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:38:19 +0000 Karen http://www.karensroad.com/?p=929 Our son was married this weekend in a lovely ceremony held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The morning after the wedding, my family met at the circle which is downtown in Indianapolis. It is the absolute center of the city. There are many shops around the Soldiers and Sailors monument. We sat at Starbucks and drank coffee and smoothies. I had never noticed how beautiful the monument is. I think we had only visited during the winter months. When it is snowing and sleeting, we seem to hurry on our way and don’t take time to notice the details. There is a lot of artistic detail on the memorial that you will only notice if you take the time to walk around it.

Erected as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the War for the Union (1861-65), the monument also commemorates the War with Mexico (1846-48), Indian and British Wars (1811-12), War of the Revolution and the capture of Vincennes from the British on February 25, 1779. The Monument rises from a circular plaza, 342 feet in diameter, where once stood the governor’s house–but where no governor ever lived. At the lower level of the Monument is a Civil War exhibit. My nieces enjoyed throwing coins into the fountains. During the Christmas season, lights are strung from the top of the monument down to the bottom, making a huge tree shape that gets me into the Christmas spirit. There are horse carriage rides for those wishing to take a tour of the city.

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