New Morocco Mall Takes Shoppers Under the Sea

In a new twist on retail as entertainment, visitors to the luxury Morocco Mall in Casablanca will be able to ride an elevator right through the center of an aquarium. What a thrill for kids!

The one-million-liter transparent aquarium - containing more than 1,000 metric tons of saltwater -- is the world’s first and largest acrylic structure of its type, designed and manufactured by ICM (based in Colorado) and Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc.

The 9.3-meter-tall aquarium called Aquadream is truly the centerpiece of this enormous new mall built along Morocco’s Atlantic coast. As any family who has visited the main city of Morocco knows (and this is one visitor's account of their Casablanca trip, they've come a long way from the souk to this.

Unlike the cobblestone streets and tent stalls of Casablanca's Old Town shopping area, Morocco Mall is an air-conditioned showcase of European and North American luxury brands.  What's new and fun is that in addition to window-shopping, visitors can spy on fish behavior and learn something just by boarding the glass lift.

To focus visitors' interest on the importance of preserving the world’s oceans, the glass elevator transports them on a five-minute "ride" into the ocean while traveling in a safe, water-tight cylinder within a cone-shaped acrylic aquarium filled with marine life.

ICM also managed the aquarium installation in its entirety, including designing the coral reef to be accurate, functional, and safe; selecting aquatic animals that cohabitate; and designing the lighting, filtration systems, and control panels for the aquarium with fail safes to keep everything running safely at minimal levels until the full system can be restored.

Additionally, the children will be pleased to know that the backwash recovery system recycles aquarium water, generating significant operational savings for the mall and, of course, for the environment.

Ready to go shopping in the great, free attraction?  Let us know which fish your kids can identify as they travel through it.

Turks & Caicos Luxury Resort is 25% through April

The luxury Seven Stars Resort, located on the island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos is having a winter sale that till thrill luxury seekers and make victims of the Great Recession weep in envy.  But if you can afford this oceanfront resort on the gorgeous Grace Bay Beach -- and crave a family beach vacation with all the sunny perks and glam service -- we suggest you take advantage of their seasonal sale.

Named for the seven stars of the Pleiades constellation, this all-suite resort suited to rock stars sits on 22 acres of manicured grounds at the center of Grace Bay Beach.  Recently named one of the best beaches in the world, it's the white sand home for guests who want to relax with their kids playing nearby in the warm and gentle surf. Among the British West Indies, the island is known for its fair trade winds all year round, making even the hottest day a pleasure (for those wearing sun block of course). 

Luxury Suites, Great Kids Club, Romance & Activities 

The resort’s luxuriously appointed junior, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites are among the Island’s most spacious with private balconies and dramatic views. Offering luxurious comforts, accommodations feature stylish furnishings and gourmet kitchens complete with wine refrigerators and Nespresso machines. 

Seven Stars -- luxury all the way -- really knows how to take care of children. Kids are lavished with welcome gifts and in-room snacks, and can play at the supervised Kids Camp all day.  Complimentary activity options for infants to pre-teenagers range from nap time to scavenger hunts, kayaking, snorkeling, sandcastle building and drama.

A special Seven Stars Kids Scuba instruction for children ages 8 and up with a PADI instructor ranges from $100-$200 depending on the level of certification. There's also nearby excursions to great snorkeling and scuba for the whole family.

To make their guests’ experience on the world’s best beach even better, Seven Stars Resort offers concierge-like food and beverage service delivered right to your lounge chair -- how great for teens! -- as well as an evening BBQ, bonfires and The Deck, a beachfront cafe and tapas bar. For a more romantic experience for those with nanny or resort babysitter in tow, parents and grandparents can take pleasure in the destination’s breathtaking sunsets on a sunset cruise along the islands’ crystal-clear waters.

Active families will find soccer, tennis, a luxury spa, nearby golf and watersports along the beach. Furthermore, Seven Stars Resort offers a fitness center featuring yoga, Pilates and body toning; complimentary water sports including Hobie Cats, kayaks, surfboards, snorkeling equipment and pool floats; tennis courts; and a children’s play area.

Still, many families want to get out and explore these pristine islands. During the winter months, whales travel to the Caribbean waters surrounding the resort and whale watching excursions can be arranged through the resort. Guests can snorkel, scuba and swim alongside turtles, sharks and rays; and dolphins can be observed during excursions suited to both first-time and experienced divers.  In fact, for scuba diving enthusiasts, the resort’s concierge is available to assist in setting up a dive trip to enjoy the Earth’s life below sea-level, right in the resort’s backyard. 

Here's the Seven Stars Resort Deal

With the resort’s Winter Special Offer, which provides guests with more than 25% savings on their getaway, rates start at $537 per night for a one-bedroom suite. Families who plan a getaway to Seven Stars Resort will receive every fourth night free when they book four or more nights.  Guests also receive a $100 resort credit, which can be used at the spa, restaurants and bars.  The Winter Special Offer has an open booking window and is valid for stays from January 2, 2012 through April 14, 2012.

Read one family's review of Seven Stars Beach Resort for Families. For more information or reservations, call 866/570-7777 or email reservations@sevenstarsgracebay.com and mention ‘Winter Special Offer’.  This offer is good on all room categories based upon availability and cannot be combined with any other existing offers.  Rate and resort credit does not include government tax and service charge, and black-out dates apply.

By the way, new Facebook fans will have the chance to enjoy immediate savings on their next stay with Seven Stars’ exclusive Facebook Fan Offer, which includes 35% the best available rates on an Ocean Front Junior Suite when booking 5 or more nights.

Decision Making in an Era of Too Many Choices

We know that planning a family vacation when you have to satisfy several peoples' needs and worry about a budget, convenience, and good value can be stressful... if not totally overwhelming. This guest post from Jean Blackmer, author of MomSense: A Common-Sense Guide to Confident Mothering (and other books), deals with just this issue in daily life.

I stood in the produce section of the grocery store looking at the variety of peppers. I picked up a green one, examined it for brown spots and gave it a gentle squeeze to make sure it wasn't mushy. It felt solid so I put it in my cart and imagined how I might actually get my kids to eat something green other than a gummy worm.

 

Then I noticed the red, yellow and even orange peppers. Maybe I should buy one of each? I wondered. As I scanned the produce section I noticed another area where more peppers were displayed like colorful crayons - the organic section. Maybe I should buy organic? I wondered for the millionth time.

Could buying a pepper really become such a time-consuming, mind boggling decision?

In our world today? Yes.

A paradox exists: we are fortunate to have so many choices, but this often causes difficulty in decision-making and may lead to regret with decisions. In the book Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, author Barry Schwartz builds a convincing case of how our culture of abundance robs us of satisfaction. "As the number of choices we face increases, freedom of choice eventually becomes a tyranny of choice. Routine decisions take so much time and attention that it becomes difficult to get through the day."

A mom's day is already difficult enough, dealing with toddler meltdowns, sleep issues, food choices, sibling squabbling and (fill in the blank) ____________.

How can a mama be confident in her decision making on these issues and so much more, and not get bogged down in the process?

Here are some ideas:

•       Decide what really matters. For example, if how to get your baby to sleep matters more to you than what type of applesauce to purchase then you'll spend more time and energy on the sleep solutions.

•       Limit your choices. Limit yourself to looking at three different stores, ask only three different people you respect for advice, and visit only three reputable online sites for ideas on the decision you're dealing with.

•       Don't compare your decisions to others. Each mom is as unique as her own finger print. What you decide may be different than your mother, sister or friend and that's ok. Trust you've made the right decision for your unique situation.

•       Once you make a decision- decide to move on. Don't allow yourself to second guess your decision.  We all make mistakes and actually can learn from them.

As moms we make practically as many decisions in a day as we take breaths, not only for ourselves but for our children too. Becoming confident in our decisions will help the whole family because confidence is contagious.

"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly and believingly, without a second thought." James 1:5-6

Jean Blackmer is also Publishing Manager for MOPS International, Mothers of Preschoolers and lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband, Zane, and their three sons.