Cow Appreciation Day at Chick Fil A

Cow Appreciation Day at Chick Fil A

Receive a *free* entree at Chick Fil A on July 12, 2016 from open to 7 p.m.

All that is required is that you dress like a cow.

Yep you read that correct!

Dress like a cow and receive one of many entrees (breakfast, lunch or dinner).

See official details here.

My Favorite Super Bowl Commercials for 2015

My family got together to watch the Super Bowl last night. Though our favorite team wasn't playing (Go Ravens), we still enjoyed the commercials and ate great food.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite television commercials that played last night. I'm a fan of funny commercials. What do you think? What was your favorite commercial from last night?


1. Which Guy is Sexier? I vote truck guy all the way!

2. When Pigs Fly

3. Real Life PacMan - I'm not a beer drinker, but I would love to play the game.

How to Make It Through the Winter and Still Have Fun

On a day when it's cold and snowy I'm dreaming of Spring. Warmer weather and planting my garden sounds wonderful right now.

Unfortunately, Spring is still a couple weeks away.

Here are a couple things you can do to get through the somewhat lonely, isolating winter months for those in cold weather areas.

1. Get Outside
I know it's cold and possibly snowy, but get outside. Breathe in fresh air. Get some sun. Even if it's only to run to the mailbox or to a store.

2. Read a Good Book
If you can't get out because of the weather - escape into a great book. Curl up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and get engrossed in a wonderful story.

3. Get Some Exercise
Many people pack on the pounds during the winter months, but there are plenty of things you can do to stay fit while remaining inside.  There are tons of dance, exercise, and sporting games on a variety of gaming systems. We love Just Dance and Wii Fit.

You don't need a gaming system to get fit, you can do yoga, Tai Chi, calisthenics (sit-ups, push-ups, jump rope, etc.), weight lifting or any number of exercise videos online.

4. Find a Hobby, Craft, or Project
Distract yourself by getting involved in a hobby or starting a craft or project. Find something you truly enjoy. Something like crochet, knitting, quilting, photography, scrapbooking, etc. Here is a link to a ton of hobbies in case you need suggestions.

5. Get Together With Friends and Family
Being around different people can really help lighten the mood. Let's face it being stuck with the same people can try everyone's nerves. Hosting a dinner party or movie night can be a great time for all. It can give you something to look forward to and lots to talk about after, as well.

So basically, get out, get moving, get around other people and start doing stuff. Keep busy and have fun!

Plus remember...

57 days until Spring

Lego Minifigure Holiday Postcards

Here's a fun, free postcard your kids will enjoy creating. Make your family in Lego Minifigures.

My kids helped create themselves in minifigures and loved it. The pic above is of our whole family.

The people are fully customizable. You can choose from a variety of faces, colors, and clothes. There is also an option to add names.

You can download the finished product or share in directly from Lego's site. I plan to print it out and save it as a holiday decoration.

What will you do with yours?


Create Your Own Postcard Here

Hundreds of Creative Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Ever since they came out I've always wanted an Elf on the Shelf elf. A little blue eyed boy elf. I've collected links and photos of loads of really fun ideas that my elf could do.

In case you haven't heard a shelf comes to visit your home and reports back to Santa whether your kids are naughty or nice. Sometimes the elf is nice and sometimes he or she is mischievous.

I haven't got one yet, but thought I would share my links with all of you. There are lots of really cute ideas to try. Have fun exploring!

101 Elf On the Shelf Ideas from Blossom Buckhouse
Over 70 More ideas With Photos by Happiest Mom on the Blog
100 Mischievous Elf ideas by Design Dazzle
Sunny In Second Pinterest Board full of ideas
25 Ideas That Take Under 5 Mins. by Over The Big Moon
Some Mischievous Ideas by Rae of Light Photography
51 Creative Ideas from Mommysavers
51 More Creative Ideas from Mommysavers
To find a ton more photos of ideas do a simple search on Pinterest.com for "Elf on the Shelf".

You can purchase your own Elf on the Shelf elf online at Amazon.com*, eBay and at Target stores near you.

Then you will need this to help you choose a name for him or her. It's a free download from ParentPretty.com.


* All links to Amazon within this post are affiliate links.

Teaching Kids to Be Thankful

This is November and Thanksgiving isn't too far off. It's a perfect time to start teaching kids about being thankful (if you haven't already).

Well I have a little one that just seems to have a hard time being thankful.

It's not that unusual for kids to be self centered when they are little. Kids commonly want to be first in line, want the newest toy even though they have loads of toys at home, and basically want everything their way.

That doesn't mean they will always be that way. Sometimes we, as parents, need to show them all the wonderful things they already have in life. Then from there they can start helping others feels so blessed.

Grateful Journal
One thing my family does is keep a grateful journal.

Nothing fancy or complicated.

We purchased pocket sized weekly calendars for each of us at the dollar store and write one sentence or phrase a day.

There are only two rules we follow. Everyone must write something everyday and you can't write the same thing more than once a month.

I've found it really helps us to focus on the good things that happen in our lives. Obviously some days are easier than others, but there is always something to be thankful for. 


Grateful Jar
Another thing we do is have a grateful jar. This is fun and easy too.

Whenever something memorable happens we write it on a slip of paper and stick it in a jar labeled 2013.

Then at the end of the year, usually on New Years Eve, we read through all the slips of paper. Reminiscing about all the fun we had the past year.

Modeling
My family also tries to teach how to be thankful by showing we are thankful. That means saying it to a stranger who holds open a door, a family member who helps with the dishes or a child for picking up their toys.

How to you teach your children to give thanks?

Fun iPhone Apps for Moms with Kids

As a mom of three, my kids ask to play on my phone quite a bit. Whether we are in a restaurant waiting for our food or in the doctors office waiting to be called back, kids get bored.

Here are a couple really fun, kid-friendly games that moms can enjoy, too.

Mini Pets

My little wanna be vet loves playing this game. She enjoys caring for all the different animals.

Hay Day
My big girl had always wanted to play on Farmville on my Facebook account (way back when), but she found Hay Day and has enjoyed it ever since. It can even be downloaded onto the iPod Touch.

Addictive Voices
This one is kinda fun. You record a message and then press any of the faces to hear your message in a funny voice. My kids really the little duck and chick.

Doodoo Pad - Drawing Pad for Kids
A really neat drawing app that all my kids enjoy. My oldest draws cupcakes with mustaches, my boy draws little stick figure ninjas and my youngest draws pretty much anything.

Most, if not all, of these are fr*ee apps available on Apple's iTunes store.  Please share any family/kid friendly apps that your family enjoys.


* These are NOT affiliate links and I am  not compensated in any way for recommending these apps.  My kids and I just enjoy using these apps.

Back from Vacation

The past week my family and I were on vacation in Avon, NC with my hubby's family. This is the first time I've ever been to the Outer Banks. It is sure was beautiful.

We visited the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It's a very pretty lighthouse. You are able to climb to the top and look around for $8 per person. We decided to stay on the ground, because there was a hour wait to climb it. There was also a really interesting museum that was fr#ee to the public.

We got some fishing in. My daughter caught a fish and my son caught a fish and a crab.  My hubby even helped a man get a baby shark off his hook. He technically wrestled a shark. LOL

We went fishing from the Avon Fishing Pier and let me say we won't be doing that again. The pier isn't exactly the sturdiest pier I've ever been on. It swayed pretty bad with the wind and it looked and felt like a kid built it.  It's really wavy.


As we were driving down Rt. 13 past Hatteras we saw this awesome looking space ship. I had to get a photo of it, because it was so big and even had photos of aliens in some of the windows. Too funny!

On our way home we had to stop by Digger's Dungeon - Home of Grave Digger. We are Monster Jam fans and this was really great! Hubby and little girl even rode a monster truck over a school bus. She really got a kick out of that. It only cost $5 per person to ride. We got to see a Grave Digger truck up close and they even have a diner, a shop, a small zoo (farm animals), and a playground. It was very family friendly.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend going to Avon, NC as a family unless you are die hard beach or water sports fans. That area is more quiet than family oriented. I have to say if we were to go back we would stay in Kill Devil or Nags Head. There was much more stuff to do - like mini golf, laser tag, shops, etc.

Well glad I'm glad to be home. Now I have a week to get the kids ready to start school on Monday. So much to do.  See you tomorrow.

Stuff to Do on Vacation Rainy Days

You and your family are on vacation and unfortunately it starts to rain. Whether it rains for a couple hours or couple days. Your vacation isn't ruined just because it's raining. Here are a couple activities your family can do when the rain comes down.

Galleries/Museums
Find a local art gallery and view works by local artists. There are many children's museums throughout the country as well as lots of historical museums. Just be mindful that many other people will have the same idea, so plan for crowds or get there early. 

Laser Tag
For more active folks, try an indoor laser tag facility. Kids and adults can run around hunting the other team in hopes of winning. There are usually a limited number of people that can be on a team, which works out when other places are really crowded.

Mini Golf
Most popular tourist destinations have at least one indoor mini golf place, so you can play regardless of the weather outside. This is always a good option, because family members of almost all ages can play.

Aquariums
Aquariums are always a nice option. Walk around and view all the animals at your own pace. Many will allow strollers and even have interactive displays for younger children.

Art/Craft Businesses
For a more hands-on activity try a local arts and crafts business. Some offer make and paint pottery, while others offer make your own jewelry or scrapbooking classes.

Shopping
Of course, shopping is always an option when it's raining. It's a nice time to find a souvenir to bring home. Just be warned that the stores are usually crowded on rainy days. Try smaller specialty shops or boutiques to find unique gifts as opposed to big malls or chain stores.

Fishing
If being outside in the rain doesn't bother you - you can always go fishing (you may need a license). The fish really don't care if it's raining.

There are lots of rainy day activities to choose from when you are on a family vacation.

Personalized Game of Guess Who

My kids had received 2 games of Guess Who, a while back, in a kid's meal from one of their favorite restaurants. They played it once and then it was left sitting for a couple months. Normal unfortunately for kid's meal toys in my house.

I was trying to find fun activities for my kids while we are on vacation next week and wanted to surprise them with a personalized game for them to play.

We had a portable version of the game, but you could easily do this with the regular size game and it would work much better. These pictures are so tiny, but I made it work.

I made one with all our immediate family members. I also made one that has a bunch of Harry Potter characters because we are big Harry Potter fans.

I collected all the photos I wanted to use in a folder on my computer than selected the ones to print. Then I chose "Contact Sheet" or "Index" on the print settings. I will print out a bunch of thumbnail size pictures. I still needed to shrink them a bit so I printed the page out 55% instead of 100% size. You can obviously make the photos whatever size you need.

Hope this inspires some of you to create your own personalized games for your family.

Quick Science Experiment Thats Fun for Little Kids

Today the kids and I had fun with some common household stuff to make a fun weather related activity.

This is a quick, easy and inexpensive little experiment, but it demonstrates what happens when too much liquid fills up the clouds. It rains food coloring down to the bottom. Perfect for homeschooling families wanting a quick science lesson.

First you need a small clear glass, regular tap water, some shaving cream and food coloring.

Next fill the glass about 2/3 of the way full of water.

Spray shaving cream on top of the water so it looks like a cloud or mountain on top.

After putting shaving cream on top slowly drip some food coloring (darker colors work better). Watch what happens in the water.

You can continue to add more food coloring - even multiple colors.  See how it changes the colors at the bottom in the water.

Have fun playing with this experiment.

My Favorite Rainy Day Activities

It's raining off and on all day today, so I created a list of rainy day activities my kids could do because, of course, they're bored. LOL

Balloon volleyball
This one only requires a balloon (not helium) and something to be the net. We use a cushion or coffee table to be the net. I like this activity because it gets the kids up and moving.

Be a Star
Create your own movie. Lots of kids have their own iPod or DSi which allows them to record short videos, but most smart phones record videos as well.  The kids can dress up in costumes to put on a play or maybe show off their latest artwork, creations, or video game skills.

Arts and Crafts
My kids really like this Giant Rainbow Collage. We also have fun making stuff out of duct tape. Some of our faves are wallets, bags, covering notebooks, and pens/pencils. Another craft we have fun with on rainy days


Pitch a Tent
When it's been raining a couple days we like to set up a small tent in the living room and let the kids have an indoor "camp out".  They get out their sleeping bags, create a pretend campfire and eat marshmallows.

Cooking Up a Storm
When it's raining outside we bake up some cookies or a cake. Something fun and delicious. We get all messy and have a blast. Plus it makes the house smell good.

These are just a couple of my favorite rainy day activities that I do with my kids.

Fun with Flat Stanley

My niece in first grade is doing a project based on the book, Flat Stanley. Luckily, she choose to send us Flat Stanley to visit for a week or so.

In case you aren't familiar here's the brief description. Flat Stanley is a character in a book who gets squished flat and now gets to have all sorts of adventures because he can be mailed.

So like I said he came to visit us. He got to hang out with my youngest while she was doing crafts.

He also got to met our kitten, Gizmo. I don't think he had such a fun time with him. He got a couple bite marks on his little hand. He'll be okay though. The kitten liked to cuddle with him during one of his many naps.

Flat Stanley even got to go with us to our area's Family Fun Day at a local park. He did lots of crafts, rode ponies, saw farm animals and even got to see a state police helicopter close up. Maybe a little too close.

If you want to do this fun project with your kids. Visit FlatStanley.com for free printables under their Resources link.

* I was not compensated in any way for this blog post or for referring you to the link contained in the post.

Summer Vacation Planner - Part 2

In the last post I included the basics of how I start to plan out my kids' summer vacation. This post will go into more detail about what I actually put on the planner.

"I'm Bored!" How often have you heard that? I've heard my fair share, so each summer I try to plan some activities to keep their summer fun.

I also try to make sure they don't forget everything they just spent 9 months learning in school and I want them to stay physically active too.

Basically I try to plan out my kids' day just like the teachers do. I want to include Reading, Phys. Ed, Math, Science, Music and some social time too. However, I don't want my kids to feel like they are back in school, so I sneak all these subjects in their daily activities.

Here are some ways to incorporate learning into everyday life.

Reading
I'm a firm believer and lover of reading. I find kids enjoy reading when they like the story. You just need to find a book your child is interested in. Ex. trains, fairies, wizards, dogs, robots, Legos, Star Wars, etc.

Phys. Ed.
This one is easy. Running around a playground, jumping on a trampoline, swimming, playing catch are all great ways to exercise.

Math
A simple trip to the store is an easy lesson in math. Figuring tax and calculating change. Another way to sneak in a math lesson is cooking which involves measuring ingredients. There are also lots and lots of worksheets and games online.

Science
My kids love science and find any science project to be fun. There are tons of experiments on the sites listed below.

National Geographic.com
Scholastic.com
ScienceKids.co.nz

Music
This is easy too. Have the radio playing in the background. Try listening to a variety of music. Let the kids make their own music and record it (most phones have record notes features).

I also schedule regular play dates (get togethers) with their friends. The get togethers aren't fancy - just kids getting together and playing with their toys or video games, swimming, or playing outside.

Let me be clear. When I say I plan out stuff to do each day. I don't schedule/plan out every minute of the day.  I like to let my kids be kids and use their imagination.

My kids play a lot throughout the day. I usually do a project or something fun with them either right after breakfast or after lunch. A variety of music is on throughout the day while I'm working around the house and math is sprinkled in too. I do spend 15-20 minutes each day helping my youngest with her math, and at bedtime my kids are allowed to read before falling asleep.

I normally plan a trip to the library, a playground or some other outing once a week. Just to get out of the house. I find this helps cut down on the bickering and Mom like to be around other adults too. :)

So that is how I keep my kids busy over summer vacation. Feel free to share your family's summer plans.

Summer Vacation Planner - Part 1

My kiddos only have a couple weeks of school before they are released for summer vacation. Then I will have them for 10 weeks straight. All day - Every day!

Just like most kids they get bored easily, so I need to plan out some activities to keep their summer fun.

I start off printing out a calendar. I always use these adorable calendars created by HelloCuteness.com.    I think they are adorable and the kids like them too, but you can use any blank calendar.

First I add any appointments to the calendars to avoid scheduling conflicts. Then I add in any trips that have already been planned.

It's time to fill in the rest. Now you need to figure out what you want your kids to do all summer. Visit a day camp? Go to the local swimming pool or beach? Hang out with their friends? Trips to the library?

One thing we try to do each year is go to the movies. Each movie company holds their own summer promotion. The one near me offers their Cinemark's Summer Movie Clubhouse. It only costs $1 per kid per movie and is offered twice a week at 10 a.m. Some places such as Muvico, offer free movies to kids. Be sure to check your local movie theaters for summer deals.

Also check places like roller rinks, bowling alleys, amusement parks for deals. Many place will offer free or discounted items for children who received "A"s on their report card. It really can't hurt to ask if the company has any specials going on for the summer.

My kids love to read so that is added on our calendar. They read a book every week or two.  Their schools usually encourage reading over the summer with a contest. The kids who read over the summer and turn in a reading log get a ice cream party or small prize when they return in the fall. Here is a reading log we've used in the past from CountryClipart.com if the school doesn't provide one. Plus here's one I made.

If you need help thinking of some ideas to add to your calendar here is an article that helped me this year. It's 100 Summer Fun Ideas for Kids and Parents from About.com.

This summer will be different for us because we've always been able to visit parks, playgrounds, family, friends and of course the library. Now we need to find activities that can be done at home. It's a bit trickier with older kids who get bored easily.

I'm hopeful that it will all work out wonderfully. Feel free to share how you plan your children's summer vacation.

How to Keep Your Family Safe in Crowded Places

Summer is almost here and that means more time at playgrounds, amusement parks, beaches, sporting events and more.

If you have kids, especially little ones, that means you will need to keep a close eye on them. Which is difficult when there are lots more people around.

Here are a couple tips I've learned over the years to help keep all my family safe and sound yet still have a fun, adventure filled summer.

Photo Going In
The first thing we do when going to an amusement park, crowded playground, etc. is take a group photo.

We do that for 2 reasons. First is as a record that we were there. I use the pictures for scrapbooking. Second is that should one of my kids go missing I have their exact description right there to hand to a police officer. Clothes they were wearing, hair color, height, etc.  Hopefully I won't ever need to use it for that, but it's there just in case. Plus I can always delete the photo later.

Buddy Up
Never let your kids go anywhere alone. Even when they get a little older. Buddy up with another child or preferably an adult. Walking through crowded areas as a group can be hard, but it's even harder for little ones who can't walk as fast and get distracted easily. I always remember Home Alone 2 when Kevin gets lost in the airport. It can and does happen.

Cell Phone
Every group needs a cell phone - turned on and answered. Obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people don't bother to answer their phones or even have them turned off. Keep them on and answer them -- that's why you have them.  I've tried high powered walkie-talkies in the past, but many times they don't work because of interference, distance, etc.

Phone Numbers
Make sure everyone knows the number. There are temporary tattoos that can be put on little ones so should they get lost the police can call you. You can also make beaded bracelets with your cell number in the beads for older kids who know not to take them off.

Meeting Spot
Once in the park designate a meeting spot. "At 12:30 p.m. lets meet at XYZ for lunch. Here it is on the map." Get every group a map and circle the meeting spot and write the meeting time on it. 

Common Sense
Use common sense if something doesn't feel right leave the area. If someone creeps you out get away from them. Keep a close eye on your family because not everyone has the best of intentions.

Unfortunately our world isn't as safe as it used to be. Kids used to be able to run free without fear of being abducted or worse. Times are changing and it's not just kids we need to keep an eye on  - grown men and women need to be safe as well. Buddy up, keep an eye out for each other and you will still be able to have fun with your family.

Microcrafts Tiny Treasures to Make and Share Review

I recently went to my local library and found this awesome book. Microcrafts: Tiny Treasures to Make and Share written by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, and Katie Hatz.

It includes 25 different micro crafts. These are super tiny crafts like the cat in the photo on the book.

My favorite project was the mini books. I've always been obsessed with notebooks and journals and thought this would be a really fun project. They are so tiny you can fill them with quotes, pictures you draw or if you are really crafty - make a microscopic scrapbook.

Well, I read the directions and followed them step by step and discovered it was really easy. Here is the first book I have ever made. Notice it isn't much bigger than a penny.

I used one sheet of printer/copier paper, a tiny piece of scrapbooking paper, a small piece of cardboard (cut from cereal box), some regular sewing thread, a push pin and a glue stick. It took me about an hour to actually make the first one only because I didn't want to mess up. I also let it sit overnight to let the glue dry. Actually working on it took very little time at all. Which is great for someone like me who likes instant results.

I've also made a couple teddy bears from their book and a few more books. My daughter gave a couple teddy bears out as presents for Christmas. They are small enough to fit in a pocket and carried around undetected by others.

The teddy bears can be made out of a very small piece of felt. Any color or pattern. I'm thinking about making a camouflage bear for my son. 

I have to say this has got to be the best craft book I've found in a long time. I've actually completed a couple of the projects in the book unlike so many books I simply browse through. These projects are something I can make with my kids and we love how tiny they are.

* Just an FYI - the link above is my affiliate link for the book on Amazon, but feel free to check your local library first. If you love the book like I do you can always go back and buy it later.

Family Fun Too Expensive

This past weekend my oldest daughter attended a birthday party at a local bowling alley. So instead of sitting around waiting for her to be done, my hubby, the kids and I decided to play too.

We walked up to the counter and were told it would cost $14 per person for 2 hours of bowling and shoe rental. Whoa! That's $56 for the four of us. I haven't been bowling in over a year and that seemed a bit pricey to me. Especially since one child bowled free with her friends.

We did have a really fun time for those 2 hours and I highly recommend getting out and having a variety of experiences.  However, it made me think - is this really expensive in comparison to similar activities in my area?

An evening at the movies can be just as expensive in my area with tickets costing $10.50 per person for adults (age 12 and up) and $7.50 per kid.  After taxes it costs our family of 5 just under $50.

Roller skating is also about the same in our area. It only costs $6.00 per person and skates are $4.00 to rent for a total of $10 per person. A family of 5 costs $50.

This was a rare treat for us. We do activities like this once or twice a year - making them more special and memorable for us.