Fireworks are the best, most perfect way to end your July 4th holiday weekend. I remember as a kid being filled with anticipation as all the local fireworks stands began to pop up on vacant lots and street corners. I couldn’t wait to buy our assorted box of fireworks, I was always a little bummed that my Dad would never buy the OMEGA-All-INCLUSIVE jumbo box! That bad boy had those rocket ones that you lit and ran for cover! Feelings of not getting the jumbo box would always vanish however, once I started setting those babies off in my driveway.
Times have changed though here in Los Angeles County and it is no longer legal to sell nor to own fireworks here. In fact the laws differ from state to state and county to county, every year with regards to America’s favorite July 4th evening celebratory devices. We all know that they are a great time, but please check out and observe your local laws (for your safety, and everyone else’s) with regards to fireworks before you drive across the state line, because you know of a fireworks merchant who sells “the really big ones”.

Yes more and more often, professionally produced fireworks shows have become the way to enjoy them. As I noted earlier, if one lives in Los Angeles as I do, a professional display is the only way to enjoy them. There is a great number of shows happening in and around the greater Los Angeles area both on the 3rd and 4th of July this year. You can check out a fairly comprehensive list 4th of July, Fireworks Shows here. I think it is generally excepted that the big shows go down at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood and at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

This years program at the Hollywood Bowl features the Los Angeles Philharmonic and John Fogerty of Creedance Clearwater Revival fame. There are tickets available for July 2, 3 and 4th. They can be purchased online from the Hollywood Bowl Box Office. “Americafest” at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena is billed at the largest fireworks display in southern California, with an expected 25-30,000 people in attendance. For the second year in this the 83rd year of Pasadena’s July 4th spectacular, the Rose Bowl presents Drum Corps International.  This is Marching Music’s Major Leagues with five of the nation’s best Drum Corps units performing their field shows and music with amazing precision. Of course let’s not forget that both of these venues offer a truly world class fireworks display. You may purchase tickets for the Americafest at the Rose Bowl from Ticketmaster.

However you decide to pursue your fireworks fun this year, have fun and be safe!

Summer’s not even close to being over yet, so we’re keeping your bliss going strong with BOGO - buy one smoothie and get one FREE. One for you, one for your friend - Booyah!

Offer valid until 7/12/09

Also the Blissful Word of the day is: FROLIC - Say it when you order and get $1 Off your Blackberry Bliss Smoothie.

Are you in need of a new barbecue grill? These Home Depot coupons will no doubt help you out in that department. Just check out this this beauty of a Char-Broil 48,000 btu 4-burner gas grill. Enjoy the 688 square inches of total cooking surface to tackle your hungriest crowd! In addition, this grill features a 13,000 btu outdoor stove side burner that will make you the most popular chef. This grill is a welcome addition to any outdoor living area with its stainless steel lid, full front stainless steel door, stainless steel handle and front panel. You can even move this grill around on its 4 heavy duty caster wheels. There are porcelain cast iron grates for your heaviest feasts and an electronic ignition for easy lighting. At a new lowered price of $269!

Get 10% off Appliances $398 or more - Home Depot Coupon Codes

Home Depot offers FREE Appliance Delivery (Expires 9/2/09)

Time to dust off your “Kiss the Cook” apron and pull out your lucky barbecue prongs. If you are like my Father he swears that old ashes from barbecues’ past add “flavor”. True or false the man can grill, so who knows? According to my pops nothing makes a barbecue better than grillin’ up a lot of red meat.

Well if you wanted to save money and stock up on some quality steaks check out the 4th of July Sale at Kansas City Steaks! 

Shop for Prime aged Ribeyes!

Only 1-2% of all beef can be labeled USDA prime. The Kansas City Steak Company ribeyes fall into that mouthwatering league! Tender as a filet, hearty as a strip.

(Click on link or image for pricing)

Try the Bone-in Strips!

Typically served only in fine restaurants, bite into the perfectly aged (28 days) and exceptionally marbled steak. The Kansas City bone-in strip is enhanced by the bone to give extra juiciness and flavor!

(Click on link or image for pricing)

Mmmm,  aged Filet Mignon!

Find out why it’s the best selling steak, pure and simple. At Kansas City Steak Company, filet mignon is KING. Butter-tender, cut from the center of the finest aged tenderloin and hand selected from premium corn-fed Kansas beef.

(Click on link or image for pricing)

 Perfect for 4th of July Barbecues’ - Check out the delicious, Ready-to-Grill Steaks Combos!

Outdoor grilling couldn’t be easier with this superb pairing of seasoned Kansas City strip steaks and classic steakburgers. A perfect proportion of marbling brings out the hearty flavor that the strip steak is known for, this delectable grilling combo is priced for only $69.95!

(Click on link or image for pricing)

Remember all of their premium steaks are carefully hand-trimmed, perfectly marbled and arrive ready to grill!

Exclusive Coupon Offer: $20 off orders of $150 or more. Coupon code: MTN150

Hurry offer expires on June 30th!

For more Kansas City Steak special offers and discount codes - Click here!

Fourth of July Delivery - Order by 12pm CT on June 30th in order to receive your meat on time for some Barbecue Grilling Festivities!

Young Michael in the Jackson 5 

Michael Jackson - The King of Pop 

Looking back on my childhood I was pretty lucky with regards to theme parks. I grew up in the Los Angeles area, within easy driving distance to three major parks. Each had it’s own personality, and I loved them all. Though for different reasons. Everyone knows however that when it comes to roller coasters and intense thrill rides, Six Flags Magic Mountain was the place to be.

Well recently Six Flags declared Chapter 11 (Bankruptcy) after failing to reach a deal with lenders on a 2.4 billion in debt. The bankruptcy is likely to significantly reduce the value of the shared held by owner Daniel M. Snyder and other in the chain BUT states: “This action to clean up the balance sheet paves the way for a full revival of the company. We inherited an unsustainable $2.4billion debt load from the previous management team.”

Let’s all release a collective sigh of relief, shall we? With all the bad news floating around these days the loss of one of my childhood theme parks would have been the final nail in my coffin.
However with the economy and market the way it is I would definitely not pass up an opportunity or two to visit the adventure park. Six Flags has locations all over the country, each sporting their own attractions. There are new coasters and other fun planned for Six Flags’ 2009 season, as well as a focus on discount tickets, season pass promotions, and other incentives to help families and theme park fans continue to have fun during the current economic climate. So what’s going on with Six Flags across the country this summer. Well hold on to your hats and glasses, I’m here to tell you!

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)- Terminator: Salvation This spring Magic Mountain added a new attraction to it’s already wonderful lineup. The Terminator: Salvation is a roller coaster of wooden construction that promises to transport it’s riders to a dystopian future to battle evil intelligent robots. By all accounts a great addition, and well worth checking out.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA)- Odin’s Temple of the Tiger An exciting new exhibit that will showcase the park’s 11 tigers including Odin, the internationally-acclaimed white Bengal tiger and two recently acquired tiger cubs. Guests will have several opportunities throughout the day to visit Odin’s Temple of the Tiger and experience the strength and beauty of these animals up close. Multiple shows will take place each day and during off-show hours the theater will serve as an outdoor exhibit for the park’s tigers. This exciting new attraction will demonstrate tigers’ natural behaviors and highlight their affinity for water and agility on land.

Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell, GA)- Monster Mansion The Monster Plantation has been a staple at this park since 1981. This year it has received a makeover and relaunches as Monster Mansion. The new voyage will features a slate of surprises, including new characters, music, and storyline. In addition, many of the original monsters have returned to the Mansion.

Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)- Buccaneer Battle A new pirate-themed water attraction that incorporates lighting, music, dialogue, costumes, set design and special effects - launching guests on a voyage through a three-dimensional pirate world.

Six Flags Over New England (Agawam, MA)- Bizarro The transformed Superman: Ride of Steel has become Bizarro, a multi-sensory ride experience that will take you to another dimension of thrill. Known for his clumsy and destructive attempts to emulate Superman, everything in Bizarro’s world is twisted and backwards. The Bizarro experience begins the moment you enter the ride queue line through a custom-created comic book story. Climb aboard the newly-designed coaster cars with custom built audio in the headrest. After a menacing climb, plunge 221 feet into the first of two fog-filled tunnels to launch into Bizarro’s twisted world.

Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, NY)- Sasquatch Discover the beast they call Sasquatch. Based on the infamous mythological creature, Sasquatch is a legendary drop ride with two 19-story steel towers. You’ll be shot to the top in less than three seconds. But it doesn’t end there. Once you reach the highest point, you’ll be rocketed downward with a 2 G-force before experiencing a series of air-cushioned bounces up and down the tower.

Hahaha! Are you just chomping at the bit to get to Six Flags this summer? Oh, I am right there with you! Six Flags Coupons anyone? Let’s GO!

I have been one to always place a premium on travel. I usually find a way to make, at the very least, one major excursion a year. However this summer I will not get the opportunity. It’s ok, I’ve accepted it. Rather than making my own plans I can shoot all of you some helpful ideas however. While checking out our summer travel coupons, I noticed Orbitz is offering savings of up to 40% on Canadian vacations. Oh Canada. I’ve been wanting to travel up to Canada for a couple of years now, so decided to get some ideas together on where to travel if The Great White North was in one’s future (hey it’s not snowy and white during the summer, no parkas required!).

Toronto - Although not the national capital, Toronto is the Ontario provincial capital and probably the best-known city in Canada, in large part due to the Toronto International Film Festival and its popularity as a theatre destination. Toronto is comparable to Chicago or New York in that all are big, lively, multicultural cities that offer a lot to visitors. This is a city with a rich heritage that is still apparent in its architecture but has also grown to include diverse, ethnic neighborhoods that thrive in the cities center.

Niagra Falls - While in Ontario and on Canada’s east coast I would definitely visit Niagra Falls, one of the great natural wonders of the world. You can find it just a couple hours drive south of Toronto. Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada, is home to the Horseshoe Falls, the most powerful waterfall in North America and possibly the best-known in the world - truly a sight to behold. Niagara Falls is probably best known as a honeymoon destination, attracting millions of newlywed or just plain romantic couples each year. Just remember that attempting to go over the falls in a barrel is not only out of fashion, it is strictly forbidden.

Montreal - Oh yes, one must visit Montreal. The city of Montreal has a history dating back to 1642 when settlers from France landed at the edge of St. Lawrence River. Montreal is unique among cities in North America, comparable perhaps only to New Orleans in the depth and the pervasiveness of its European history. Visitors can enjoy a modern city with all its conveniences, outstanding shopping and dining, but also get a taste of Europe and a glimpse back into Canada’s rich French heritage.

Quebec City - Quebec’s provincial capital, Quebec City, is steeped in history and European in flavor. Quebec City offers an experience unlike almost any other in North America. Quebec City’s Old Town itself is a work of art: Cobblestone walkways, well-preserved 17th century architecture, café culture and the only North American fortress walls that still exist north of Mexico — all of which has given it status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vancouver - On the south west coast of British Columbia, Canada’s most westerly province, Vancouver is one of Canada’s hottest travel destinations. Vancouver is surrounded both by water and mountains and really holds an appeal to lover’s of outdoor adventure. That being said, this is also a cosmopolitan city that also has upscale shopping, fabulous restaurants and a happening nightlife. I’ve been to Vancouver, it is a seriously cool town. I heartily recommend it.

While the chaps from South Park make me laugh, I don’t share their views on Canada! Go enjoy yourselves.

For more discount Summer Vacation Packages - Click here!

Have you ever daydreamed that you were in another profession, or better yet wish you had some sort of talent or superpower? Well I have always wished that I had phenomenal musical talent. Like Jimmy Hendrix or something! If I could go back to creation I would have requested inhuman prowess with a guitar or have a voice that would bring people to tears. Ahhh, I can just picture it now…

Thousands of screaming groupies chanting my name - it would rival Beatlemania!

Well if you were lucky enough in this life to be blessed with musical ability, Music123.com is offering a series of great deals and discounts.

For example you could purchase the Yamaha 300 Portable PA system for only $ 629.99 (you save: $159.01/ 20% Off).Designed for quick and easy use, the PA package includes 2 - 2-way loudspeakers, a 6/8-channel (4 mono, 2 stereo) mixer, and dual 150W amplifiers in a sound system that one person can handle. Now that’s stellar sound that your roadies can easily more around. Ha!

Plus if you enter coupon code: SPRING at checkout you get up to $200 off your purchase. (Expires 6/30/09)
For more free Music123.com coupons where you can save anywhere from $65-$100 dollars off your puchases - click here!