Enter to Win a Milk Unleashed Variety Pack!

It’s back to school time which means we'll be resuming a hectic schedule, once again! As my family juggles school, homework, sports, and everything in between, Milk Unleashed is here to help!  

I try hard to keep our fridge stocked with lots of healthy food, but there have been times when we ran out of milk and it messes up our morning routine. Luckily, with single-serve shelf safe milk there’s no need to ever run out! Milk Unleashed goes wherever your family goes, whether it’s a lunchbox, a cooler, purse or a diaper bag!

Check out the Milk Unleashed App full of On-The-Go Games and Tips, On-The-Go Snacks, and Get Social by Tweeting with the #MilkUnleashed hashtag.  Then, enter to win a Milk Unleashed variety pack consisting of four shelf safe milks (white and chocolate) from: Hershey’s, LaLa, Horizon and Organic Valley.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Pinterest Fails At Their Best!

There have been more than a few times I've heard moms talking about how they love Pinterest and reading blogs, but it can make them feel inadequate. Everything tends to look so unique, creative and perfect. Then, on the other side of fence, the are countless bloggers appear to have it all together, but still don't feel like they're good enough. They want more Pinterest followers, more Facebook engagement, and more readers on their blog. A big part of me doesn't really care at all, but it's totally human to strive to acheive more, right?

No matter what you see on Facebook, Pinterest or blogs, you know that moms everywhere, myself included, screw up on a regular basis. Note the DIY Wasp Catcher that I made via Pinterest. I didn't bother blogging about it because it was a total fail! It didn't catch anything, but, looking back, it was fun to make. And, entertained my family as we waited by the kitchen window hoping it would work.

I guess I'm not the only woman who is totally amused by Pinterest fails. There's a website I just found called Pinstrosity and it is definitely worth checking out. It highlights the best of the best Pinterest fails in a way that will having you laughing out loud and glad that you weren't the one that had to learn the hard way.

Have you ever made something that looked so cool on Pinterest and turned out to be a complete DIY nightmare?

Back to School WithTiny Prints Sweepstakes!

 

You know the saying that the 'grass is always greener on the other side?" That's sort of how I'm feeling right now.  Summer has been so good to us, but, there's also a part of me who is really looking forward to getting the kids back to school. It's time to get more organized, get back into a schedule, and move forward with the new school year!

When I heard about Tiny Print's Back-to-School line, I couldn't believe how many different products they offered. They have: Personalized Planners & Calendar Notebooks, Dorm & Classroom Décor, Lunch box notes, Allergy cards, Contact Cards, and so much more.

I know from experience that their products rock!  Last Christmas I ordered personalized photo cards from Tiny Prints and they were the BEST Christmas cards that I ever sent out. The quality exceeded my expectations and I received dozens of compliments from friends and family about those cards. I also recently ordered some labels from Tiny Prints, and I was really happy with those as well.  The colors were vibrant, and they were exactly what I wanted.

But, since we're talking about back-to-school, I wanted to show you some of their cool products that can help you get organized and look good while you're doing it. 

Here's one example of the cute allergy alert cards you can personalize for your child. Neither of my kids have food allergies, but I'm sure I'd be ordering these a.s.a.p. if one of my kids did. 

They also have really adorable personalized stationary that you can get for your child or their teacher.

Does you child always seem to lose their belongings? Order a one-of-a-kind paper notebook with your daughter's photo or some custom labels with your son's name on it.

CONTEST CLOSED 

*Please note: promo code excludes, calendars, photo books, Erin Condren notebooks & planners, and gift certificates. This is a sponsored post. See my full disclosure and terms of use here.

 

It's time to get creative with kids!

I was just looking at the calendar and IT'S ALMOST SEPTEMBER!!! This summer has really flown by! We're still enjoying school-free summer, but I know that many kids are back in school already. 

It's always fun to watch the bloggers adjust their crafts according to the seasons. Fall and Halloween are going to quickly creep in and then we'll get bombarded with Christmas themed crafts, recipes and activities.  What are you looking forward to this autumn?

Review: Whale Watching in Cape Cod, MA

Whale watching in Cape Cod, MA was an incredible experience. If you're ever in Cape Cod, and looking for fun things to do with kids, this should be at the top of your list!

My husband bought our tickets on WhaleWatch.com and, the next day, we headed to Provincetown, MA - lovingly referred to by the locals as P-town. The traffic getting there was a bit crazy, so we really should have given ourselves more time in the car. Finally, without a minute to spare, we parked the car, quickly picked up our tickets, ran to the boat and found some seats on the upper deck.

The boat was nice and big and there was plenty of room for everyone. Before I knew it, the boat set off on its course and we were all looking forward to seeing some whales in their natural habitat.

When you're out in the ocean and get a glimpse of the whales, a photo really doesn't do it justice, so I decided to take some video of what we saw. 

The kids were completely captivated each time they saw the whales. Everyone on the boat was 'oohing and ahhing' too. If you were to ask me if I would recommend this to someone visiting Cape Cod, my answer would be "Absolutely. Yes!" The tickets were a bit of a splurge, but my husband and I were really happy we decided to go on this whale watching tour. It really was a once in a lifetime experience.

Have you ever seen whales in the wild?  Where did you see them?

Herr's Factory Tour Review, Nottingham, PA

As we were driving down Route 1 in a torrential downpour of rain, I was almost regretting my decision to meet up with friends for the Herr Factory tour. Even though it was 9:30 in the morning, the rain was so intense that it resembled night time. Then, finally, the skies cleared up, we cruised down the road and arrived in Nottingham, PA, perfectly on time for our tour of the Herr's snack factory.

From that point forward, I knew we were going to have a good day!

Both of my kids were extremely excited to go to the Herr's factory. But, then again, what kid wouldn't love to meet up with friends and be surrounded by tons of potato chips? My 4-year-old just had one concern: Why is it called "Herr's?" Is it for boys too? After I assured him that boys were welcome at the factory (and were equally welcome to sample some potato chips) he was ready for the tour.

We began our tour of the Herr's Snack factory in a small auditorium where we learned the history of Herr Foods and about the courtship of James Stauffer Herr and Miriam Hershey. We learned all about the origins of the company and how they have grown over the past 65+ years.

We started the walking tour by seeing large balls of dough that are used to make Herr's pretzels. Then, we moved onto the tortilla chip production area and warehouse where there were thousands and thousands of boxes of freshly made snacks. When we arrived at the potato chip production area, our cordial guide, Kyle, filled a tray of potato chips directly from the production line, and handed everyone a nice size sample. I wish I could show you a photo of the kids' happy faces while they were eating these warm chips, but we weren't allowed to take any photos on the tour. Everyone was savoring each little bite.

All in all, the day was a complete success! In our group, the kids ranged in age from 1 to 6 years old, and they all really enjoyed the Herr's factory tour. When the tour was finished, we all got together for lunch in Chipper's Cafe and did some shopping in the store. From now on, whenever I see a bag of Herr's snacks, I'll think about one man's dream to grow a potato chip business and a really fun afternoon with friends.

DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE FROM HERR'S!

Would you like to try Herr's products for yourself?

All of the employees I met at the factory were exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. They are so nice, that they actually offered to send 1 of my lucky readers a surprise pack of Herr's products.  If you live in the U.S, are 18 or older, and would like to enter to win, just leave me a comment (under this post) of your favorite potato chip flavor. Don't forget to enter in your email address so that I can contact you if you win!  I'll use random.org to select a winner on August 27th.

To learn more about Herr's and their factory tours go to Herrs.com

17 Travel Tips For Long Car Rides With Kids

Everyone is packing up and heading out! 

Since so many families are leaving for their summer vacations right now, I decided to gather some of the best tips for long car rides and put it all in one post.

 I have to admit that, I think the DVD players kept my kids quieter than anything during our 8+ hour long journey to Cape Cod, but, many of these other tips were life-savers too. For example, don't underestimate the power of a quick stop at a rest area.  Having a potty break, walking around for 10 minutes and eating a popsicle made a world of difference when my 4 year old was getting extremely fed up of being in the car during our drive home.

I asked some moms for their top tips for traveling with kids in the car, and this is what they had to say:

 1) Make a Roadtrip Countdown - Jessica got crafty and "wrote a city name or border that we would pass every two hours or so. On the back of the paper, I wrote a task. They included things like special treat, read a book out loud, special present (I bought some dollar store items) draw a picture, play a game, etc. As we passed the city, we ripped the tag off and completed the 'assignment'! This was a huge hit and the hours flew by." Click here for free Printables for Road Trips

2) "Rent Redbox Movies and Return Them In Other States Along Your Route. You can use the free Redbox app to find kiosks near wherever you may be"  says Heidi of Free Fun In Austin. This is much cheaper than buying new DVDs and since it's so affordable, you can really stock up!

3) Play Games - Joey, from RealMomMedia.com, reminded me of all the fun car games you can play with kids. The license plate game is a classic.  You can also count things on the side of the road (like animals or objects), make Road Bingo cards, and play I-Spy. 

4) Expect Delays - As soon as you become a parent, you learn that everything takes longer with kids.  "Just Just know that 7 hour trip will become 10. Consider when you leave and factor in traffic," Chrissie from London Mod Girl.

5) "Load up your ipad or Leap Pad with apps and videos they've never seen before." - Lisa from ADayInOurShoes.com

6) Books on tape are ideal for preschoolers and Early Elementary age kids.  Susan reminded me that I can borrow audio CD's from my local library. Susan said that when she went on vacation "Sometimes the kids were so engaged they refused to get out of the car." A few titles to check out include: Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, The Freddy series, and The Castle In The Attic, Winnie the Pooh with Stephen Fry, and Skippy Jon. Here is a great resource to find audio books for kids. 

7) "Take breaks every 1.5-2 hours depending on how long they can last. Let them stretch, have a snack, potty" - Brandi of One Great Mom. 

8) "Make up a "fun bag" for each way (down and back) with items like coloring books, small toys, new books, magnet boards, model magic, etc. I also got them a small lap desk. They love it. Last time back they barely watched any movies!" - Heather of Diapered Knights

9) Make a Sandpaper & Felt Travel Board - Melinda from Look What Mom Found told me about this sensory activity from Gummy Lump which you can make with this Sandpaper Felt Board Tutorial. 

10) Have lots of fun snacks that they never get at home. "Single-size cereals were their favorites" - Alissa of Fun Finds For Families

11) Get Creative - It's amazing how a few simple Wiki Stix or pipe cleaners can really entertain a kid. Have a contest to see who could create the coolest thing.
  
12) Leave super early, like 4am. Put the kids in the car (in their pjs) and they'll typically sleep for the first few hours and be groggy for a while when they first wake up. Then with breakfast and a DVD it's usually not too painful. - Sarah of Finnegan & The Hughes

Or, if you're not a morning person...

13) "Drive 1/2 the way late at night stop at a hotel" - Sherri of SuperExhausted.com

14) Before you go, download online kid's books to your Kindle or IPad. Here's a great post about finding online books for kids.
.
15) "Stopping for a play break is essential. Kids need time to run around a bit. Try finding out
where a playground is on your way to stop at for a 15 minute play break." - Diane   
.
16) Don't be afraid to abandon all rules - Heidi says "We did Texas to Canada and back this summer and I abandoned all rules/ It was a DS + movies +iPod + iPad + snacks children's paradise. All electronics all the time. Everyone was happy for all 50+ hours (because I usually don't let them have that much screen time, and we wouldn't let them play at all while we were in Canada).

17) Please, Relax. It is a vacation after all!- "It's always much easier than I anticipate it being. I think the anxiety beforehand is the worst part!" - Bestie, of SuperSuburbs.com

If you have specific questions about a certain area, just ask. I find that the best tips come from my friends, family and other parents who have already ventured to my destination. They are your best source of information!  There are also tons of local blogs from moms that are full of tips as well as helpful travel sites such as Trekaroo.com.

What is your best tip for long car rides with kids? 

Back from Vacation

For the first time in almost 2 years, I took a vacation from my blog. My family headed to Cape Cod, MA and in the midst of the packing chaos, I completely forgot to throw my laptop in the car. So, if you've been wondering where I've been, there's the story - short and sweet!

After a long drive up to Brewster, MA from Philadelphia, we got settled and had the chance to experience some once in a lifetime activities that I will never forget. I have to admit that it was not love at first sight when we arrived in Cape Cod, but I quickly fell in love with the area as soon as we started getting our feet wet, going where the locals go, and taking in all that Cape Cod has to offer. Looking into the eyes of a wild seal, taking in a baseball game at sunset, and roasting s'mores on the beach were just a few of my favorite activities.

I can't wait to share all of our adventures with you! Since there is no way I can sum up everything into one blog post, I'll be writing about each of them individually. And, of course, I'll be pouring my heart out about weight loss and fitness too. Spending time in the-land-of-lobster-rolls was challenging, but I've come back home with a completely new outlook on "diet" and I remain focused.

Lots of Cool Summer Activities For Kids

It's that time of year again. Beach buckets are being replaced by school supplies and people everywhere are trying to squeeze in one last getaway before summer is over!

I have to admit, that I've hit that point where I'm really looking forward to autumn. It's going to be so nice to get the kids back in school and start new activities, and having a break from this crazy humidity is going to be pretty darn sweet too. But, there's still a good chunk of summer left, and there's no shortage of fun things to do with kids.  So, let's get started with this week's Kid's Co-op.

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Lego Store Event - Build a Lego Shark August 2012

Do you have a Lego store near you? If so, take your kids (between the ages of 6 through 14) to your local Lego store to build a FREE Lego Shark!

US LEGO Stores: August 7th, begins at 5:00pm until supplies last

UK LEGO Stores: August 9th, begins at 4:00pm until supplies last 

From Lego.com:

"One day each month you can learn how to build a cool LEGO mini model, and take it home – for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. One free per child. Models are not for sale and cannot be purchased."

Have you ever attended one of these events?  What did you think?

Getting Organized With AboutOne

How many moms started the new year, with the hopes of getting more organized? 

I know I did. 

But, talking about getting organized is actually a heck of a lot easier than actually doing it.  As a female HOH, it's my job to be the glue that holds this houshold together. I need to keep track of the bills, insurance paperwork, all of the important documents that are always piling up. It's not fun, but somebody has to do it.

At my son's dentist appointment, I stumbled upon an article in Main Line Today about Philadelphia area mom, Joanne Lang, who experienced a medical emergency in her family and realized that she needed to get more organized. Lang began to dream up an idea that eventually became AboutOne.com.  It is a secure online family organizer to help her quickly and easily organize her family and home life. AboutOne:

- Offers complete privacy with bank-level security
- Guides you on the path to organization
- Gives you full mobile access
- Instantly formats your information when and how you need it and much more!

I'm in the midst of getting my household more organized, and I loved how easy it was to sign up for an AboutOne Account.  It keeps information about my kids, health, automobiles, and household safe and secure in a quickly accessible format. AboutOne is very simple to use and it gives peace of mind to moms of active kids who are always on the go. Check out this video for more information:

The best part is, you can head on over to AboutOne.com right now and get your FREE account!

Do you have any other tips for keeping your household organized?

Thanks to AboutOne.com for sponsoring this post. All opinions and text are my own.

FREE Activities for Families - July 2012

"What are we going to do today, Mom?" Do your kids ask you this almost everyday (or maybe even several times a day)? July is wrapping up, but there is a lot to do over the last few weeks of summer. If your calendar isn't already filled to the brim, check out some of these free or low cost local family activities!

This Saturday, July 28th, head on over to your local Michael's store from 1-4pm for Passport to Imagination - India.  Kids, ages 3 and up. Check out Michael's website for details.

Barnes & Noble stores are hosting Leapfrog Geography Relays where kids can learn about teamwork, maps and U.S. geography. Kids ages 4 and up are invited with their parents.  Go to Barnes & Noble Website for more information.

This Saturday, July 28th, at 10am, kids can build a Kung Fu Panda Stacking Friends Kit at Lowe's Home Improvement stores from 10-11am.  Don't forget to register on the Lowe's Website before you go!

Also, Lakeshore Learning stores have a different Kid's craft every Saturday from 11am to 3pm.  On July 28th, kids can make a Colorful Summer Fan. To find a store near you and learn more, just go to LakeshoreLearning.com.

Here are some other local activities you can take advantage of:

Free or Cheap Movies

Kids Bowl Free

Kids Skate Free

Kid's Events at Your Local Library

Or, find lots of family friendly activities at one of the Best Blogs for Local Fun!

What's the best thing you've done this summer?  Do you have any other tips for finding inexpensive local events?

3 Reasons To Get Your Kids Outside

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How much time do your kids spend outside?  Without a doubt, my kids and I spend more time outside than inside, and I'm always surprised when I see statistics that show the limited amount of time that most kids spend outdoors. Did you know that, on average, children today are spending half as much time outdoors as they did 20 years ago?*  

The National Wildlife Foundation has a fanatastic campaign called Be Out There which encourages parents to get their kids to spend more time in their backyard, local playground or park.  Here are 3 reasons, ,from their website, why kids should be playing outside:

  • Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative in their play, less aggressive and show better concentration. (Burdette and Whitaker, 2005; Ginsburg et al., 2007)

  • Sixty minutes of daily unstructured free play is essential to children’s physical and mental health. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2008)

  • The most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “wild nature activities” before the age of 11. (Wells and Lekies, 2006)

Here are some photos I took while we were playing outside at a local arboretum:

Wouldn't you like to take a seat here?

Here is a place to rest and a place to explore.

Join a friend at this table as your kids play a game of tag at the arboretum.

I took these photos at the Sit-a-Spell exhibit at the Tyler Arboretum. If you're in the Philadelphia area, you can catch the exhibit now through October 28, 2012.  It's one of the many great places across the U.S. where your kids can run free and Be Out There!

Where is your favorite place to let your kids play outside? Do you have any local outdoor treasures?

*Reference: Juster et al 2004; Burdette & Whitaker 2005; Kuo & Sullivan 2001

More Kids Crafts and Activities

After a few quiet days around here, I am ready to get back into the swing of things.  I'll definitely be checking out the Kid's Co-op for some fun new ideas. So, let's get started!

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What A Week: CuddleUppets, Summer Fun & Forced Relaxation

Just when I thought we couldn't get any busier, we've been forced to stop everything and take it easy. The past few days have included taking care of sick kid # 1, and, now, I'm onto sick kid # 2.  I don't want to bore you with the details, so instead, I want to share a few photos of the fun we had at a friend's house over the weekend before all of this craziness began.

Have you seen those Cuddleuppets advertised on TV? My kids have been wanting to get their hands on one and singing the catchy jingle for months, so I was really excited to win one at a recent event that I went to. CuddleUppets are ridiculously soft and cuddly blankets/puppets. It was a nice size for the car, and my 4 year old snuggled with it during the hour long journey to my friend's house.

My friend Christine is an amazing cook and she's always experimenting with new recipes. The best way to describe her cooking is 'the perfect combination of healthy and delicious', but no matter what she cooks, you always want more. I don't think Haagen Daz counts as healthy, but sometimes, you just need to splurge. And, whe you top creamy vanilla ice cream with grilled pineapple, fresh sliced banana and brown sugar, it just melts in your mouth.  Yum!

One of the kids' favorite part of the day was playing with the dog and giving her a bath.  I was pretty skeptical about this, because I know some dogs don't like to get bathed, but she took her bath like a champ! Miss Lucy, the bichon frise, was such a sweetheart.

Giving the dog a bath was quite entertaining, but the highlight of the day for me was catching up with long time friends and enjoying the beautiful (albeit cloudy) weather.  I hope we have many, many more days like that in the future.